This purpose of this hearing was to discuss the latest scientific research regarding the use of mercury in medicine in the United States and the possible connection between these products and autism spectrum disorders. The subcommittee also discusses the need for further research to determine the biological basis of autism and how the Federal Government is working to decrease the occurrences of this health epidemic in the United States. Representative Dan Burton and chairman of the committee begins the hearing by explaining that mercury has been present in medicines dispersed widely to the public for decades. Unknown to most Americans, mercury is still present in medicines that we use every day, including eye drops, nasal spray, as well as many anti-fungal and anti-itch creams, as well as vaccines. While the pharmaceutical industry has found new ways to manufacture many medicines and vaccinations that do not require the use of mercury, three vaccines that currently remain on the mandatory pediatric vaccine schedule still contain the mercury derivative thimerosal, and those vaccines are the DTAP, which is called the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine, the flu vaccine and hepatitis B. Now, although it has been taken out of a lot of the children's vaccines, the shelf life on many of those vaccines is pretty long. Mercury-containing vaccines are still on the shelf, even though they are not being produced. So in addition to these three vaccines that are still being produced using mercury, there are others that are on the shelf right now that doctors are still using that children are being vaccinated with. The contents of this document include: (1) Hearing held on September 8, 2004; (2) Statements; and (3) Letters, statements, etc. submitted for the record.