Renewed Act Pledges Nearly $700 Million to Autism

Autism Speaks, North America’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, commended President Obama for signing legislation that renews the Combating Autism Act for another three years.

Sponsored by Congressmen Chris Smith and Mike Doyle, and Senators Robert Menendez and Mike Enzi, the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2011 earmarks $693 million to research, treatment and services over the next three years, and reflects the federal government’s continued commitment to eradicating the disease. The original act provided $945 million over five years.

Autism Speaks co-founders Suzanne and Bob Wright joined the President at a White House ceremony, and thanked all the leaders involved “for telling the millions of families who deal with autism every day that America will not quit on them,” said Wright. “With autism rising at an alarming rate, America cannot afford to stand still.”

The bill cleared the Senate after lawmakers agreed that the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) will examine the use of federal funding for autism research.

The prevalence of autism is 1 in 110 children, including 1 in 70 boys, prompting the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to call autism a public-health emergency. The annual cost of autism to the nation is estimated to be as high as $90 billion. Research is currently focused on determining what causes this developmental disorder, as well as advancing early intervention.

“Our success … was made possible by the tens of thousands of grassroots advocates who insisted that Congress hear their voices,” said Autism Speaks President Mark Roithmayr. “Congress listened.

To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit their website.

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