Congress is considering an extension of the Autism CARES Act. (Thinkstock)
With the nation’s flagship autism law about to expire, federal lawmakers are moving slowly to renew roughly $2 billion in developmental disability spending, but they have little time left.
Activities funded under the measure known as the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act, or Autism CARES Act, will end if the law is not extended by Sept. 30.
The measure, which originated in 2006, allocates federal funds for research, prevalence monitoring, screening, professional training and other government activities related to autism. The law was last passed in 2019.
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So far this summer, the Autism CARES Act of 2024 has passed committees in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, but has yet to advance further in either chamber despite broad bipartisan support.
There are differences between the House and Senate bills, but both seek to increase funding to renew many existing autism-related programs over five years, while expanding the focus on issues related to aging among people with autism and supporting people with speech or language limitations. Each version also calls for the National Institutes of Health to develop an annual budget plan for autism research, a change advocates say could help ensure federal investment keeps pace with community needs.
“The House and Senate bills are different, but not so different that they can’t be resolved in conference,” said Kim Musheno, vice president of public policy for the Autism Society of America. “There are provisions in each that are stronger or weaker, but both address the needs of people with autism across the lifespan.”
Other provisions of the proposals include a push for a more inclusive approach to autism research to ensure better representation of those who need 24-hour care, for example, as well as calls for a government report examining how to increase the number of developmental behavioral pediatricians and a separate study examining the challenges of young adults with autism transitioning to adulthood.
“The Autism CARES Act is the most important piece of legislation when it comes to federal investment in autism research, training, and data collection efforts,” said Keith Wargo, president and CEO of Autism Speaks. “The improvements included in the bill will help continue to make progress in addressing the gaps in access to health care, services, and supports faced by too many autistic individuals. We look forward to seeing the House and Senate work collaboratively to ensure the Autism CARES Act is reauthorized before the September 30 deadline.”
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