US House of Representatives Eric Cantor (R – Va.) unveiled on World Autism Day a novel plan to cut federal public funding for presidential campaigns and conventions and to use that money to fuel autism research efforts.
Cantor said last week that he and other colleagues in the House plan in the coming weeks to introduce the Kids First Research Act, which will eliminate the public funding for Republican Party and Democratic Party presidential conventions and campaigns, and instead will "use these funds to expand pediatric research at the National Institutes of Health through the NIH Common Fund…."
Cantor notes that a recent report stated that one out of 50 school-aged children are affected by autism spectrum disorder.
"And that’s why I can think of no better use for the millions of taxpayer dollars currently spent on presidential campaigns and political party conventions than funding the medical research that holds the key to improving the quality of life for so many Americans," he said.
The Hill reports on the plan, and points out that "the $200 million Cantor's proposal would restore is about 8 percent of the $1.6 billion cut from the NIH under sequestration.