Senate Subcommittee Approves Combating Autism Act

Autism is an epidemic, now affecting 1 in 150 children. As recently as 10 years ago, only 1 in about 3000 children had Autism. The cause for this dramatic increase in diagnoses is unknown and very speculative at this point. The only way to find more information on this confusing and mysterious disease is research, and research costs big bucks.

Last week, the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee took the first step in funding more research by approving full funding for the Combating Autism Act. This Act will provide $53.5 Million for programs at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Prevention and Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA). These programs are ones that will allow for Autism surveillance and observation, early detection testing, education for parents and educators, awareness activities, and intervention services.

The preliminary approval of this bill is a huge step in the right direction. This year's approval provides $18.5 Million more than was approved in last year's spending bill. A bill providing this type of funding will hopefully bring much needed resources to the right places-in the hands of parents, caregivers and educators.

The same committee that has given preliminary approval to the Combating Autism Act has also taken the important step to ensure that the National Institute of Health follow it's recommendation to provide much needed monetary funding for the Autism Strategic Research Plan. This is a plan that would be developed by the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee. This is a committee that can help push Congress to help fund Autism awareness, education and care projects and require private insurance groups to pay for therapy and care recommended by the patient's doctors and therapists.

The bill then goes on to require the National Institute of Health to provide a full report by July 1, 2008, detailing the findings that were a result from the implementation of the Combating Autism Act. In this report, the Senate wants to see recommendations for funding levels for future projects and programs.