Autism Speaks hailed the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday for approving the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act, and urged the Senate to quickly complete congressional action on the bill, and send it to President Obama.

The legislation will expire September 30 unless the Senate follows the House’s lead and renews the 2006 Combating Autism Act. Passage by the Senate will ensure the federal government’s commitment to fund autism research and treatment for another three years, and sustain federal funding at current levels, authorizing $693 million for research and treatment for autism and related disorders.

“Autism Speaks thanks Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Mike Doyle (D-PA) for their leadership in assuring a strong federal response to autism, which now affects 1 in every 110 children—including 1 in 70 boys,” said Autism Speaks co-founder Bob Wright. “Autism has been declared a public health emergency—doing nothing is not an option.”

Action on the bill now moves to the Senate where the measure cleared the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on September 7 by unanimous vote. President Obama has pledged to sign a bill reauthorizing the CAA this year. The CDC has determined that the incidence of autism in America has jumped to 1 in 110 children, and 1 in every 70 boys.

One third of the Senators have publicly signed on to support this legislation as cosponsors. Our Senator Barbara Boxer is among the co-sponsors, Our other Senator, Dianne Feinstein, has yet to declare herself.

Contact Name: Autism Votes: Telephone Number: 202-955-3114
Mailing Address: Autism Speaks, 1060 State Road, 2nd Floor, Princeton, NJ 08540 US
www.autismvotes,org.