Actress Patricia Heaton has won Emmys for her star turn on "Everybody
Loves Raymond." Now, the mother of four boys is lending her political
clout to the fight against autism. Teaming up with "Cure Autism Now,"
Heaton is pushing Congress to free up legislation that would dedicate
nearly $1 billion to the cause.
Patricia Heaton: Autism is a disability that is not that well
understood. And it's important to get federal funding because this is
affecting children across every socioeconomic level. It's not dependent
on race or where someone is financially. This is hitting many, many,
many American children.
There's a wonderful bill that was just passed unanimously in the Senate
-- Combating Autism Act. It's gone to the House. And even though it has
a majority of support in the House, there is one representative, Joe
Barton from Texas, who, unfortunately, is standing in the way of getting
this bill passed.
We need to get politics out of the way here, because there are people's
lives at stake. … I have met so many parents who have been affected by
this. And it's heartbreaking. And yet I see these parents, and they are
so strong. And they are-- They are fighting for their kids, really
fighting for their kids. And that's why I'm here to really beg Joe
Barton to pass this bill, because it has the support of everyone else.
And I think he needs to do the right thing.
