The House of Representatives passed a bill authorizing $1.95 billion in funding for autism spectrum disorder research.
The Autism CARES Act of 2024 passed the House Sept. 18 by a vote of 402-13. The bill provides $306 million in annual funding for the National Institutes of Health, $28 million for the CDC and $56 million in funding for the Health Resources and Services Administration.
The Autism CARES Act was first passed in 2006. The updated 2024 funding directs the NIH to ensure research supports the entire population of individuals with autism spectrum disorder, including those with co-occurring disorders.
"With substantive input from advocates in the autism community, my legislation will also help advance key research priorities and ensure enhanced collaboration between federal agencies and families and individuals with autism," New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith, the author of the bill, said in a Sept. 18 news release.