Senator Collins’ Bipartisan Bill to Support Autism Research, Training, and Services Passes Out of Committee

Washington D. C. – Today, the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted 20 to 1 to advance the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act of 2024. This bill, authored by Senators Susan Collins and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), reauthorizes and makes critical updates to existing Autism CARES research and public health programs through fiscal year 2029. The Autism CARES Act, originally signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2006, is the primary source of funding for autism research, services, training, and monitoring. This legislation has led to significant advances in early intervention services, evidence-based interventions, and training for health care professionals that have directly benefited individuals living with autism.

“Like many people, I have a personal story involving autism. My husband had a child who was diagnosed with severe autism at a very young age. His son, who sadly passed away, was never verbal, and I know how difficult it was. This bill will continue the successful programming across HHS that helps us better understand the causes and the symptoms of the Autism Spectrum Disorder and improve the lives of families affected by it,” said Senator Collins. “Reauthorizing this important law is critical to expanding research at the NIH, supporting the CDC's effort to increase public awareness and early detection of autism spectrum disorder, and strengthening and expanding the Health Research and Services Administration's workforce training to identify and support children and youth with autism as well as their families.”

Specifically, the Autism CARES Act would:

  1. Expand autism research and coordination of activities at the NIH, including adding a new focus on autism and aging, individuals with co-occurring conditions, and those unmet communication needs;
  1. Support CDC’s efforts to increase public awareness and surveillance of ASD-related issues;
  1. Increase the capacity of the LEND interdisciplinary workforce training program at universities across the United States, including at two universities in Maine, which helps to identify and support children and youth with ASD and their families;
  1. Ensure the continued work of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), which coordinates all federal efforts and provides advice to the Secretary of Health and Human Services annually, and;
  1. Require the HHS Secretary to submit a report for Congress on the mental health needs of individuals with ASD and the feasibility of expanding developmental-behavioral pediatrician training programs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 36 children have been diagnosed with autism – an increase of approximately 300 percent since 2006.

This reauthorization is supported by Autism Speaks, the Autism Society, and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities.