President Obama Signs Bipartisan Autism CARES Act Into Law
WASHINGTON, DC (August 8, 2014) – President Obama signed the Autism CARES Act today, which dedicates $1.3 billion in federal funding for autism over the next five years. Autism CARES—introduced by Sens. Menendez (D-NJ) and Enzi (R-WY) and Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Mike Doyle(D-PA)—enjoyed broad bipartisan support in both the Senate and the House.
“Autism Speaks commends President Obama and our Congressional leaders for taking action on behalf of the millions of families affected by autism, which continues to rise at an alarming rate,” said Autism Speaks President Liz Feld. “These families are our champions and this critical legislation would not have been possible without the voices of tens of thousands of grassroots advocates from across the country.”
Autism CARES reauthorizes the landmark 2006 Combating Autism Act for another five years at an annual funding level of $260 million. The funding will be used primarily for autism research grants awarded by the National Institutes of Health. Autism CARES will also ensure the continued funding of autism prevalence monitoring; training of medical professionals to detect autism; and continued efforts to develop treatments for medical conditions associated with autism.
“Since 2006, the prevalence of autism has risen at an alarming rate to 1 in 68, including 1 in 42 boys. Given this epidemic, there has never been a greater need for these types of bipartisan efforts to make autism a federal priority,” said Feld. “We applaud Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Michael Enzi (R-WY) and Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Mike Doyle (D-PA) for their continued leadership and commitment to autism families.”
Autism CARES also tasks the federal government with surveying the current landscape of adult services and reporting to Congress where gaps exist and how to most effectively address those needs.
“There is a particularly acute need to serve young people with autism as they transition to adulthood and need new housing, employment, transportation, and other services,” Feld added. “Autism CARES will be critical to identifying these challenges and the ways that the federal and state officials can address them.”
The bill also empowers the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) with the task of avoiding unnecessary duplication and making recommendations to implement a strategic plan. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is required to take charge of implementing the plan and reporting to Congress on progress.
Together, we can unlock your child’s potential
Related News
08/04/2025
Safety & Autism Centers
Safety & Autism Centers: How LAC Prioritizes Safety As a parent, trusting anyone with the safety of your child is a big ask, even more so when you know that your child sees, feels, and experiences the world differently. At Lighthouse Autism Center, we understand that safety means more than locked doors or clean playrooms. […]
06/11/2025
Overcoming Stereotypes
Autism stereotypes are common and can have significant social consequences for autistic children. Misconceptions hinder the acceptance and inclusion of autistic children. Challenging these stereotypes is vital for creating a more understanding and supportive society. Challenging Common Autism Stereotypes When people hear the word “autism,” they often imagine a narrow set of images, like the […]
06/11/2025
What’s Next After ABA Therapy?
There are a number of reasons why an autistic child might stop ABA therapy, and one is that they have reached their goals. In this article, we take a look at what parents can expect going forward. What Are the Next Steps After ABA Therapy? As a parent, you only want what’s best for your […]
