Welcome to our witnesses and those who are joining us for this first ever congressional hearing examining the magnitude and the severity of the global public health crisis of autism.

Autism, as I think more and more people are aware of, is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs a person's ability to communicate and to relate to others. The condition is often associated with rigid routines or repetitive behaviors. Autism is a spectrum disorder that affects each individual differently. The types and severity of symptoms vary from case to case and range from mild to extremely profound.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 40 percent of children with autism spectrum disorder do not talk at all, and another 25 to 30 percent speak some words at 12-18 months but then lose that speech. Autism occurs in all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups but on average affects four to five times more boys than girls.