Autism funding may face presidential veto
Friday, November 2, 2007
By: Carin Yavorcik

Joint committee approves components of Combating Autism Act for 2008 budget

On November 1, a joint House and Senate conference committee approved significant increases in autism-related funding in the 2008 Labor, Heath and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill. The legislation provides $37 million for autism public awareness and early intervention - a $17 million increase over last year, as mandated in 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 promised to veto the bill, which includes $9 billion more in discretionary spending than he asked for. This veto threatens much needed increases for autism early intervention, diagnosis, treatment and research. Please email, call or fax your Member of Congress or Senator today and urge them to SUPPORT the FY 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill. 

From Congressional Quarterly:
Spending Bill Headed to Conference, and Likely Bush Veto, After Senate Passage