Autism CARES Act of 2019

The Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support (CARES) Act of 2019 reauthorizes and expands the provisions first introduced in the Combating Autism Act of 2006. The Autism CARES Act ensures support for research, services, prevalence tracking, and other government activities. The new legislation increases the annual authorized federal spending on autism efforts to $369.7 million through 2024. New provisions expand the focus of government activities to include the entire lifespan of people on the autism spectrum and require a report to Congress on health and well-being. This legislation also reauthorizes and expands the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), including requirements for additional community stakeholders to serve on the committee.

Topic	Topic Description
Sept. 30, 2019	Signed into Law The President signed the Autism CARES Act (H.R. 1058) into law. Co-Sponsor Rep. Chris Smith Press Release Co-Sponsor Sen. Bob Menendez Press Release Autism Speaks Press Release Public Law 116-60
Sept. 19, 2019	Senate Floor Discussion (Passed Senate) The Senate passed the Autism CARES Act (H.R. 1058) Congressional Record Sponsor Rep. Bob Menendez Website Disability Scoop Press Release Autism Society Press Release
July 24, 2019	House Floor Discussion (Passed House) The House passed the Autism CARES Act (H.R. 1058). WATCH: Co-Sponsor Rep. Mike Doyle Speaks in favor of Autism CARES Act Sponsor Rep. Chris Smith Website Disability Scoop Press Release Autism Society Press Release
July 17, 2019	Markup of Bills, Full Committee The Committee on Energy and Commerce met in open markup session on Wednesday, July 17, 2019. WATCH: Full Committee Markup of Bills H.R. 1058, the "Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (Autism CARES) Act of 2019", was favorably forwarded, amended, to the full Committee by a voice vote. Amendment offered by Rep. Doyle in the Nature of a Substititute was agreed to by a voice vote. Amendment offered by Rep. McMorris Rodgers to the Doyle AINS was agreed to by a voice vote.
July 11, 2019	Markup of Bills, Subcommittee on Health The Subcommittee on Health met in open markup session on Thursday, July 11, 2019. WATCH: Subcommittee Markup of Bills H.R. 1058, the "Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2019” or the “Autism CARES Act of 2019", was favorably reported, as amended, to the House by a voice vote. Amendment offered by Rep. Eshoo was agreed to by a voice vote.
June 25, 2019	Hearing on "Reauthorizing Vital Health Programs for American Families" The House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Health held a legislative hearing entitled “Reauthorizing Vital Health Programs for American Families” on June 25, 2019 to discuss the Autism CARES Act and three other bills under reauthorization. The subcommittee heard from a panel of witnesses who testified on the importance of these bills. WATCH: Hearing on Reauthorizing Vital Health Programs for American Families Amy Hewitt, Ph.D. Testimony Joseph Bocchini, M.D. Testimony Patricia Kunz Howard, Ph.D., RN Testimony Jill Kagan Testimony
Feb. 7, 2019	Introduced in House and Senate The Autism CARES Act (H.R. 1058, S. 427) was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate on February 7, 2019. The House referred H.R. 1058 to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Health. H. R. 1058 Legislation