Senate HELP Committee Advances Autism CARES Act

Last Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) convened to mark up several key pieces of legislation. This session aimed to reauthorize vital programs and address ongoing needs in healthcare.

The Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act of 2024, S. 4762, saw strong bipartisan support passing it with a 20-1 vote, with Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) being the sole nay vote. This legislation seeks to reauthorize and expand funding for autism research, treatment, and support services. The act is designed to enhance early diagnosis, intervention, and access to care for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Key provisions of the Autism CARES Act include new reporting requirements for the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee and a mandate for the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to submit an annual budget estimate directly to the President, who will then forward it to Congress. This requirement aims to ensure that autism research activities are strategically planned and adequately funded through fiscal years 2026 to 2029. The House version of the bill also passed through committee.

The session also included the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (S. 4776) and the Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act (S. 4755), both of which also passed.