New Congressional Bill To Re-Auth CAA Is Introduced HR-4631
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May 20th, 2014
Comments Off on New Congressional Bill To Re-Auth CAA Is Introduced HR-4631
Couple of weeks ago, Congress introduced a legislation to reauthorize the Combating Autism Act of 2011 which is to sunset this year. IACC – the Federal autism advisory committee that I serve operates under CAA.
The author is Congressman Smith (R-NJ) who has been a champion for national & international autism issues including Africa. It has 44 cosponsors so far which I will list here. Notice, there is no Minnesota congressional person cosponsoring thus far. It is worth noting the last CAA of 2011 – I literally advocated in all eight congressional representatives and both U.S Senators to sponsor and vote for it which they ALL did. I think the first one to say yes was Rep Kline, the last was Rep Cravaack and the easiest to convince was Rep Ellison. I even harassed Cantor and Reid to put it on the schedule for floor vote then begged the Obama legislative staff to ask him to sign which he did (if you remember) the day CAA 2006 expired.
Anyway, as much fun as that was (not really), I am not advocating for this bill but of course wish and hope it passes. I am sure it will. If you read the current language – it seems to me the self autistic adults got what they wanted, the anti vaccine advocates got some of their language, but what is missing is addressing racial disparity or even having a mandated diverse person. Oh well – I hope someone contacts the Congressional Black Caucus to assure such language gets in. Don’t worry, it won’t be me as my advocacy work is winding down in both state and federal. This time they also added members nominated from Congress – now only US HHS Secretary nominates public members.
Below is the current language and the current sponsors.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 4631 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4631
To reauthorize certain provisions of the Public Health Service Act
relating to autism, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HO-- USE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 9, 2014
Mr. Smith of New Jersey (for himself, introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize certain provisions of the Public Health Service Act
relating to autism, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Combating Autism Reauthorization Act
of 2014''.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAMS RELATING TO AUTISM.
(a) National Autism Spectrum Disorder Initiative.--Part R of title
III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i et seq.) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 399AA through 399EE as
sections 399BB through 399FF, respectively; and
(2) by inserting before section 399BB, as redesignated, the
following:
``SEC. 399AA. NATIONAL AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER INITIATIVE.
``(a) Establishment.--For the purposes described in subsection (b),
the Secretary shall designate an official within the Department of
Health and Human Services to establish and oversee a National Autism
Spectrum Disorder Initiative (in this section referred to as the
`Initiative').
``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Initiative shall be--
``(1) to implement a strategic plan for the conduct of, and
support for, autism spectrum disorder research, taking into
account the strategic plan developed by the Interagency Autism
Coordinating Committee under section 399DD(b); and
``(2) to ensure that autism spectrum disorder research
programs and activities of the Department of Health and Human
Services are not unnecessarily duplicative of other Federal
research programs and activities.''.
(b) Developmental Disabilities Surveillance and Research Program.--
Section 399BB of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i), as
redesignated, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``for children and
adults'' after ``reporting of State epidemiological data'';
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``establishment of
regional centers of excellence'' and inserting ``establishment
or support of regional centers of excellence'';
(3) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``center to be
established'' and inserting ``center to be established or
supported''; and
(4) in subsection (e), by striking ``2014'' and inserting
``2019''.
(c) Autism Education, Early Detection, and Intervention.--Section
399CC(g) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i-1), as
redesignated, is amended by striking ``2014'' and inserting ``2019''.
(d) Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee.--
(1) Appointment of members by congressional leaders.--
Section 399DD(c)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
280i-2(c)(1)), as redesignated, is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
( by redesignating subparagraph (E) as
subparagraph (I); and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the
following:
``(E) one member appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives;
``(F) one member appointed by the majority leader
of the Senate;
``(G) one member appointed by the minority leader
of the House of Representatives;
``(H) one member appointed by the minority leader
of the Senate; and''.
(2) Preventing duplication.--Section 399DD(b) of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i-2(b)), as redesignated, is
amended--
(A) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
( by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph
(7); and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
``(6) include in such strategic plan recommendations to
ensure that autism spectrum disorder research programs and
activities of the Department of Health and Human Services are
not unnecessarily duplicative of other Federal research
programs and activities; and''.
(3) Extension of sunset provision.--Section 399DD(f) of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i-2), as redesignated,
is amended by striking ``2014'' and inserting ``2019''.
(e) Report to Congress.--Section 399EE of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 280i-3), as redesignated, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``Combating Autism
Reauthorization Act of 2011'' and inserting ``Combating Autism
Reauthorization Act of 2014''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``provisions of
the Combating Autism Act of 2006'' and inserting
``provisions of this part, section 404H, and section
409C'';
( in paragraph (2), by striking ``provisions of
Combating Autism Act of 2006'' and inserting
``provisions of this part, section 404H, and section
409C'';
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``Combating
Autism Act of 2006'' and inserting ``Combating Autism
Reauthorization Act of 2011'';
(D) in paragraphs (4) and (5), by striking ``over
the 6-year period beginning on'' each place it appears
and inserting ``since'';
(E) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(F) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(G) by adding at the end the following:
``(10) a description of the actions taken to implement, and
the progress made on implementation, of the strategic plan
developed by the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee.''.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 399FF of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i-4), as redesignated, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``399AA'' and inserting ``399BB'';
and
( by striking ``fiscal years 2012 through 2014''
and inserting ``fiscal years 2015 through 2019'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking ``399BB'' and inserting ``399CC'';
and
( by striking ``fiscal years 2011 through 2014''
and inserting ``fiscal years 2015 through 2019''; and
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) by striking ``399CC'' and inserting ``399DD'';
and
( by striking ``$161,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2011 through 2014'' and inserting ``$190,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019''.
SEC. 3. REPORT TO CONGRESS ON DEMOGRAPHICS AND NEEDS OF ADULTS WITH
AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER.
(a) In General.--Not later than 24 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall complete a study and submit to the Congress a report on the
demographics and needs, if any, of individuals in the United States
with an autism spectrum disorder (in this section referred to as
``ASD'').
(b) Issues To Be Addressed.--The study and report under subsection
(a) shall--
(1) address the demographics of individuals with ASD making
the transition from a school-based support system to adulthood;
(2) address the needs, if any, of adults with ASD with
respect to--
(A) community integration;
( housing and residential supports;
(C) employment;
(D) transportation;
(E) vocational training and rehabilitation;
(F) continued education;
(G) health care and social services;
(H) speech therapy;
(I) public safety; and
(J) day habilitation activities, including those to
provide a safe, respectful, and stimulating environment
that allows participants to become active members of
their community;
(3) provide an overview of Federal, State, and local
government policies and programs, and any available private
(including private nonprofit) sector assistance, for addressing
the needs identified in paragraph (2); and
(4) provide policy recommendations to--
(A) improve outcomes for adults with ASD making the
transition from a school-based support system to
adulthood;
( enhance the effectiveness of the policies,
programs, and assistance described in paragraph (3);
(C) ensure integration of and collaboration among
services for addressing the needs of adults with ASD;
and
(D) encourage independent living, equal
opportunity, full participation, and economic self-
sufficiency.
(c) Survey.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out this section, the
Comptroller General shall conduct a survey of public and
private sector stakeholders on--
(A) the needs, if any, of adults with ASD;
( the services and resources available for
addressing such needs; and
(C) the effectiveness of such services and
resources.
(2) Stakeholders.--The stakeholders to be surveyed under
paragraph (1) include the following:
(A) Individuals from the business community
representing both large and small businesses.
( Institutions of higher education, community
colleges, vocational schools, and university centers
for excellence in developmental disabilities.
(C) Social service providers, including case
management experts and health care providers.
(D) Vocational rehabilitation experts.
(E) State and local housing departments and
nonprofit organizations that provide housing services
for individuals with disabilities.
(F) Individuals with ASD, parents of individuals
with ASD, and representatives from advocacy groups that
focus on individuals with ASD.
(G) Officials or employees of the Federal
Government responsible for overseeing disability
services at each of the following departments and
agencies:
(i) The Department of Health and Human
Services, including the Administration for
Children and Families, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Health
Resources and Services Administration, and the
Administration for Community Living.
(ii) The Department of Education.
(iii) The Department of Housing and Urban
Development.
(iv) The Department of Labor.
(v) The Department of Justice.
(vi) The Department of Transportation.
(vii) Any other Federal departments and
agencies determined appropriate by the
Comptroller General.
<all>
It is also worth noting, last Friday for some odd reason and with no warning – subcommittee on House Oversight and Government Reform announced a Congressional Autism Hearing for tomorrow May 20, 2014 at 9am in Rayburn House Bldg. The testifiers will be;
by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (I); and (C) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following: ``(E) one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; ``(F) one member appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; ``(G) one member appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives; ``(H) one member appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; and''. (2) Preventing duplication.--Section 399DD(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i-2(b)), as redesignated, is amended-- (A) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the end; (
Mr. Michael K. Yudin