The Combating Autism Act of 2005 builds on the provisions of the Children's Health Act of 2000 and would authorize $860 million in federal funds over five years to combat autism through research, screening, intervention and education. It also reauthorizes the National Institutes of Health Centers of Excellence Program in autism originally created in 2000, doubling the number of authorized centers.
The Combating Autism Act of 2005 must be co-sponsored by a majority of members in the Senate and House. This is the first and most important step toward making this bill a law, which would enable the federal government to pick where the Children's Health Act of 2000 will leave off when it expires later this year.
The Combating Autism Act of 2005 is supported by all major autism organizations, including A-CHAMP, Autism One, Autism Society of America, Autism Speaks, COSAC, Cure Autism Now, Dan Marino Foundation, First Signs, Generation Rescue, Moms Against Mercury, National Alliance for Autism Research, National Autism Association, NoMercury , OAR, Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center, SafeMinds, Talk About Curing Autism, TalkAutism, The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology, Unlocking Autism and US Autism and Asperger’s Association
Together, we are calling upon each and every American that loves someone affected by autism, or is concerned about the rising rate of incidence and lack of response from the federal government, to contact your U.S. Congress and help gather co-sponsors for the bill.
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