The Autism CARES Act of 2024 renews and updates federal programs that support autism research, surveillance, education, and early intervention through 2029. It extends funding for autism-related programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health agencies, increasing authorized spending levels to roughly $28.1 million, $56.3 million, and $306 million annually across different program areas. The bill directs federal agencies to improve data collection on autism prevalence, expand training for developmental-behavioral pediatricians, and better address the needs of individuals with autism as they age into adulthood, including their mental health and transition from school-based to adult services. It also strengthens the National Institutes of Health's autism research efforts by broadening the range of medical specialties involved and requiring more detailed budget planning. Additionally, the bill allows the Department of Health and Human Services to provide states, tribes, and localities with technical assistance on using federal funds to improve communication tools and services for people with autism and other developmental disabilities, with annual reporting to Congress on these efforts.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.