Congress Passes LHHS Bill, Which Includes Support for Autism
Thursday, November 8, 2007
By: Carin Yavorcik

Legislation may face presidential veto

It was an especially challenging week in Washington, as Democrats moved forward with an effort to combine Labor, Health and Human Services (LHHS) spending with Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (VA) spending. Republicans objected to combining these bills, arguing that Democrats were holding veterans’ funding hostage for political purposes. While Democrats pointed to broad support for both measures, after some parliamentary back-and-forth, Senate Republicans prevailed in their efforts to separate the bills. The LHHS bill passed 56-37. It was returned to the House on Thursday, where it passed with strong - but not veto-proof - support.

The legislation provides $37 million for autism public awareness and early intervention - a $17 million increase over last year, as mandated by the Combating Autism Act of 2006. The bill also appropriates $16.5 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to use toward surveillance and research and $1 million to reinstate the Inter-Agency Autism Coordinating Committee, which would develop a strategic plan for autism research at the National Institutes of Health.

President Bush has vowed to veto the bill because it asks for $9.8 billion more than his budget proposal. Unfortunately, there is not a veto-proof majority in either chamber, so additional negotiations will be needed.

Additionally, this week the Senate is expected to take up the Defense spending bill, which includes an extension on the deadline for funding bills. Of the 12 spending bills that Congress must pass, none have been passed thus far. The government is currently running on an extension passed in September that runs out on November 16. The Defense spending bill will likely extend the stopgap funding for the government through December 14th.

As the appropriations process moves forward, ASA will continue to fight for additional funding, and will be calling on grassroots advocates for support.