House Passes Luján-Collins Bill to Reauthorize the Autism CARES Act

Bipartisan Bill Now Heads to President’s Desk

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), to reauthorize the Autism CARES Act. The bill renews and expands federal support for research, services, and training related to autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. Autism CARES is the main source of federal funding for autism research, services, training, and monitoring.

“With the House passage of the Autism Cares Act of 2024, Congress is one step closer to reauthorizing this critical lifeline that has helped children be diagnosed earlier and receive the services that they need. This is good news for families across New Mexico and the nation, and I urge President Biden to sign this bill into law,” said Senator Luján. “I’m grateful for the bipartisan support of this legislation that will continue to drive research and support individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.”

Specifically, the Autism CARES Act:

• Includes $2 billion in authorized federal spending on autism research and training programs for the next five years;
• Increases federal autism spending programs by approximately $104 million;
• Includes new language that directs the NIH Director to ensure a more inclusive approach to autism research so that studies reflect the full range of needs of support and services to ensure the physical safety and well-being of all autistic people;
• Encourages research that is focused on the daily life challenges of autistic people throughout all of life with a new emphasis on autism and aging;
• Creates a technical assistance program for states, Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations, localities, or territories to provide training and assistance to individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities with access to evidence-based services, tools and technologies that support communication needs;
• Requires HHS to develop a Report to Congress on the mental health of autistic people;
• Adds more NIH Autism Centers of Excellence – research networks that have provided us with a much clearer picture of the significant disparities that autistic people experience in terms of access to quality health care, daily life supports and services;
• Requires a report to identify and develop a strategy for expanding the developmental-behavioral pediatrician workforce;
• Creates a new Autism Intervention Research Network for Communication Needs that will benefit autistic individuals who may be unable or limited in using speech or language to communicate;
• Requires a professional judgment budget that will provide the autism community and Congress with a transparent plan that outlines a strategic direction and resource needs for autism research for years to come.

This legislation has been supported by Autism Speaks, the Profound Autism Alliance, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, and the Autism Society.

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