US Senate passes the Autism CARES Act of 2024, sending it back to House for final passage

In a significant step forward for autism advocacy, the United States Senate has passed the Autism CARES Act of 2024, advancing the critical legislation back to the House of Representatives for final consideration. The bill, which renews and expands support for federal autism programs, underscores the federal government’s commitment to addressing the growing needs of individuals with autism and their families.

“We’ve seen the tremendous impact of this law over the past two decades, and this next iteration expands efforts to address gaps in autism healthcare and services,” said Keith Wargo President & CEO of Autism Speaks. “We are grateful to Senators Ben Ray Luján and Susan Collins for introducing and championing the passage of the Autism CARES Act of 2024 in the Senate. With their support and the leadership of Autism Caucus Co-Chairs, Representatives Chris Smith and Henry Cuellar in the House, this law represents a forward-looking approach to driving progress in research, supports and services for autistic individuals across the spectrum and lifespan for years to come.”

The Autism CARES Act, formally known as the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act, aims to build upon previous iterations of the legislation first passed in 2006. The bill provides almost $2 billion in authorized funding over the next five years for key programs under the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These programs enhance the quality of life of autistic individuals and expand our ability to provide effective and quality services for people with autism and their families through research, data and training. The bill also updates funding authorization levels to increase the year-over-year support of these programs and includes eight new enhancements that address challenges related to autism and aging, inclusivity in research, the developmental-behavioral pediatrician workforce, mental health of autistic people and communication supports particularly for autistic individuals who may be unable or limited in using speech.

The Autism CARES Act of 2024 now returns to the House of Representatives for final passage before heading to the President’s desk for signature. Previous congressional action had extended the Autism CARES Act’s original expiration date from September 30 to December 20, 2024. With that end of year deadline looming nearer, Autism Speaks asks advocates to join us in asking House leadership to act quickly, emphasizing the urgency of maintaining uninterrupted support for vital programs that directly benefit individuals with autism. 

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