WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the U.S. Senate approved the Autism CARES Act of 2019, which was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Mike Enzi (R-WY).

The Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support (Autism CARES) Act provides coordinated and expanded federal resources for autism research and services.  Passage of this bill ensures the continuation of critical federal programs addressing autism spectrum disorders (ASD).  The bill provides vital federal support to build research capacity and monitor the prevalence of ASD, train health care professionals, promote collaboration among federal agencies, and address the evolving needs of individuals with ASD well into adulthood and across their lifetimes.

“More and more Americans are being diagnosed with autism.  There are many types of autism and that presents many challenges, but we need to make it a national priority to have a cohesive, comprehensive response.  This bill will provide additional support to children and families and help people with ASD from emerging adulthood to later life,” said Senator Reed.  “Passing the Autism CARES Act is a positive step toward boosting research and improving training to better diagnose, treat, and support people with ASD.”

ASD can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges.  Children diagnosed with ASD have a variety of symptoms and experience challenges and abilities that range widely in severity.  Many children with ASD face challenges in social interaction, speech/language, and communication and demonstrate repetitive behaviors and routines.

According to researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1 in 60 children nationwide have ASD, a jump of 15% since the previous study was conducted in 2016.

RI KIDS COUNT reports that 2018 “there were 2,619 Rhode Island children ages three to 21 with ASD who received special education services.  The increase in number of children with ASD has been attributed, in part, to improved awareness and better screening and evaluation tools, as well as the broadening of the definition of ASD.  Early and appropriate identification and sustained interventions by skilled professionals can result in improvements in the levels of independent functioning of children and youth with ASD.”

The Autism CARES Act will:

  • Authorize research under the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to address the entire scope of autism spectrum disorder;
  • Designate regional centers of excellence for ASD research and epidemiology
  • Direct activities to increase public awareness of autism, improve the ability of health providers to use evidence-based interventions, and increase early screening and detection
  • Authorize $23.1 million to the CDC for developmental disability surveillance and research;
  • Authorize $50.6 million to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for education, early detection, and intervention, and allows HRSA to prioritize new grant applicants in rural or underserved areas;
  • Authorize $296 million for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research;
  • Require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide a report to Congress on the health and well-being of individuals of all ages with ASD and other developmental disabilities.

The bill was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives in July.  Now that it has passed the U.S. Senate, the Autism CARES Act goes to the President’s desk to be signed into law.  President Trump is expected to sign the bill.