Summary: This comprehensive legislation was introduced in the Senate on April 2 by Senators Durbin (D-IL), Casey (D-PA) and Menendez (D-NJ) as S. 819. On May 14, the Co-Chairs of the Coalition on Autism Research and Education, Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), along with Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) introduced the companion Autism Treatment Acceleration Act of 2009 (ATAA) in the House as HR 2413. The Autism Society applauds this comprehensive autism legislation focused around enhancing the quality of life for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. (Read About How ATAA Will Help People Affected By Autism)

Read the Act's Full Text: House Version, Senate Version. We recommend accessing www.thomas.gov, the official US Congressional legislative information website, and searching "HR 2413" or "S 819" for information on the bill's status and cosponsors. Unfortunately, due to the design of the Thomas website, we are unable to provide directly links.

Autism Society's Analysis: This comprehensive legislation would greatly benefit many people affected by autism. Autism Society applauds ATAA's focus on adult services and thanks all Senators and Representatives who cosponsor it.

Tell Congress Why ATAA is Important to You! 

HEALTH-CARE REFORM

Sunday, March 21, the US House of Representatives passed the Senate version of health-care reform. "The Autism Society is pleased that Congress took a step in the right direction late last night" said Lee Grossman, President and CEO of the Autism Society, "but we have much more work to do to ensure that families affected by autism have access to appropriate services and supports"

After more than a year of debate, the bill passed 219 to 212 and is expected to be signed into law early this week. This bill, which passed the Senate in late December, includes the following provisions for people with autism:

-       Insurers would be prohibited from excluding coverage based on pre-existing conditions;
-       Insurers would be prevented from selectively refusing to renew coverage;
-       Insurers would no longer be able to charge people different premiums based on their health status, gender or occupation;
-        A standardized annual out-of-pocket spending limit would be established so that no family would face bankruptcy due to medical expenses;
-       Annual and lifetime benefit caps would be prohibited;
-       Mental health would be covered;
-       “Habilitative” and “maintenance services” would be covered; and
-       Coverage of “behavioral health treatments” such as ABA therapy, would be required.

Another bill, titled the Reconciliation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4872), also passed the in the House on Sunday with 220 votes to 211. This reconciliation package was included as a compromise to many Members of the House, and fixes issues in the Senate bill that had kept many Members from passing the Senate bill earlier. This bill will be voted on in the Senate by budget reconciliation rules, which only require 51 votes and would prevent a filibuster.

Medicare for All Act: H.R. 676

Summary: As the full title of the bill, "To provide for comprehensive health insurance coverage for all United States residents, improved health care delivery, and for other purposes" suggests, this bill seeks to establish the United States National Health Care (USNHC) Program to provide all individuals residing in the United States and U.S. territories with free health care.

Autism Society's Analysis: The Autism Society believes that the goals of this bill would greatly benefit people affected by autism and their families by ensuring that people with autism have health insurance coverage. The Autism Society anticipates, however, that these goals are more likely to be achieved in the comprehensive health-care reform legislation which is currently being reviewed in the House and Senate.

  

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 

Autism Society's Analysis: The Autism Society has been a leader in researching and understanding how our environment relates to autism through our Environmental Health Initiative. The mission of that initiative, “To improve the lives of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) by fostering an understanding of environmental contributors to the onset and severity of neurodevelopmental disabilities and other health issues” has guided our policy work. We are proudly the only autism-specific organization to be a member of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, a coalition which works to promote common-sense Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) Reform. TSCA is the law which governs regulation chemicals, and has been unchanged since it became law in 1976. Under currently law, the Environmental Protection Agency has only been able to require basic health and safty information for about 200 of the over 80,000 chemicals on the US market. Increasingly, scientists are coming to a consensus that autism is caused by a combination for environmental and genetic factors. Toxic chemicals may pose a serious risk for both causing autism, and exacerbating the symptoms in people with autism, which is why the Autism Society actively educates policy makers on the need for strong TSCA Reform.

 Safe Chemicals Act of 2010

Summary: This On April 15, Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), introduced the Safe Chemicals Act of 2010, and Congressmen Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Henry Waxman (D-CA) unvieled a companion discussion draft in the House -- long-awaited landmark legislation would overhaul the way the federal government protects the public from toxic chemicals.

Read the Senate Bill here, and a summary here. Read the House's discussion draft here, and a summary here.

Autism Society's Analysis: The Safe Chemicals Act goes a long way towards bringing our failing chemical management system into the 21st century. It puts health first, provides better information to businesses, and helps the average consumer avoid toxic chemicals in every day products. However, this important bill still has room for improvement, and with your help we’re confident we can make it even stronger. We want to work with Congress to make it harder for new harmful chemicals to enter the marketplace without first being tested for safety.

 Tell Administator Jackson We Need Real Reform

Summary:EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has demonstrated leadership and made a commitment to reforming the main federal chemical safety law – the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) – which is badly broken. Her strong statements about the importance of protecting people and the environment from unsafe chemicals are encouraging signs that substantial reform is possible.However, we must ensure this reform meets the needs of people. Right now legislation is being drafted in Congress to reform TSCA. It is critical that EPA support the strongest version of this legislation, one that includes taking swift action on chemicals we already know to be dangerous.

 The Ban Poisionious Additives (BPA) Act: S. 593

Summary: This important legislation sponsored by Senator Feinstein (D-CA) would eliminate the use of the toxic chemical bisphenol-A (BPA) from food and beverage containers.

Read more information about BPA and the BPA Act here. Read the Act's Full Text: We recommend accessing www.thomas.gov, the official US Congressional legislative information website, and searching "S 593" for information on the bill's status and cosponsors. Unfortunately, due to the design of the Thomas website, we are unable to provide direct links.

LIFESPAN PLANNING

Achieving a Better Life Experiance Act (ABLE): S. 493 H.R. 1205

Summary: The ABLE Act would enable families to establish a savings account for specified education, medical and community-based services, including housing, transportation, employment training and supports for their child without disqualifying that child from receipt of funds from entitlement programs which are vital in ensuring their quality of life. This bill would enable individuals with disabilities to live a meaningful and productive life without having to impoverish themselves, as is currently the case, and will ultimately help individuals become less dependent on public benefits.

Read the Act's Full Text: House Version, Senate Version. We recommend accessing www.thomas.gov, the official US Congressional legislative information website, and searching "HR 2413" or "S 819" for information on the bill's status and cosponsors. Unfortunately, due to the design of the Thomas website, we are unable to provide direct links.

Autism Society's Analysis: This legislation would greatly benefit many people affected by autism. The Autism Society recognizes the importance of lifespan planning and sees the Disability Savings Accounts that this bill would create as one measure to help families with adults on the spectrum.

Tell Congress Why ABLE is Important to You!

Empowered at Home Power Act of 2009: S. 434

Summary: This bill seeks to improve the long-term care system and would amend title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to revise the income eligibility level for home- and community-based (HCBS) services for elderly and disabled individuals.

Read the act's full text. We recommend accessing www.thomas.gov, the official US Congressional legislative information website, and searching "S 434" for information on the bill's status and cosponsors. Unfortunately, due to the design of the Thomas website, we are unable to provide direct links.

Autism Society's Analysis: Autism spectrum disorders affect people throughout the lifespan; therefore, the Autism Society champions long-term planning. This bill works to solve problems experienced by all Americans in the current long-term care system, including people with autism. The Autism Society anticipates, however, that these goals are more likely to be achieved in the comprehensive health-care reform legislation currently being considered in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) titled the Affordable Health Choices Act.

EDUCATION REFORM

 Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seculsion in Schools Act: H.R. 4247/S. 2860 

Summary: On Wednesday, March 3, the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act passed in the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support. The bill, H.R. 4247, was introduced by Chairman George Miller (D-CA) and Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), on December 19, 2009.

Should the companion bill, S. 2860, be passed in the Senate, it would establish the first federal standards to protect students from misuse of restraint and seclusion, and ensure the safety of everyone in the classroom.

 Read the resolution's full text and more detailed information on  the House Committee on Education and Labor's Web site or on www.thomas.gov. 

 Autism Society's Analysis: The Autism Society believes that this bill sets an important federal floor for regulation of the use of seclusion and restraint. This bill carefully balances respecting the human rights of people with autism and/or other disabilities as well as typically developing students, with the need to keep teachers and all students safe in the classroom.

Take Action by Asking Your Congressional Representative and Senators to Cosponsor this Legislation!

 

IDEA Fairness Restoration Act: H.R. 2740

Summary:This bill seeks to amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) so that people who prevail in legal action taken under IDEA can receive reimbursement for expert witness fees and other court-related costs.

Read the resolution's full text. We recommend accessing http://www.thomas.gov/, the official US Congressional legislative information website, and searching "HR 2740" for information on the bill's status and cosponsors. Unfortunately, due to the design of the Thomas website, we are unable to provide direct links.

Autism Society's Analysis: This bill is critically important to families trying to assert the rights afforded to them under IDEA. As the act stands today, families carry a heavy financial burden when they need to take their case in front of the courts and are not be compensated for many of their expenses even after they have proved their case. The passage of this bill would be a great victory for families who need to use the courts to fight for their children with autism.

Take Action by Asking Your Congressional Representative to Cosponsor this Legislation!

 Positive Behavior for Safe and Effective Schools Act: H.R. 2597 

Summary: Introduced on May 21, 2009 by Representative Phil Hare (D-IL), the Positive Behavior for Safe and Effective Schools Act [HR 2597] champions Positive Behavior Supports in schools. It allows schools to use school improvement funds from title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to create these supports.

 Read the resolution's full text. We recommend accessing www.thomas.gov, the official US Congressional legislative information website, and searching "HR 2597" for information on the bill's status and cosponsors. Unfortunately, due to the design of the Thomas website, we are unable to provide direct links.

Autism Society's Analysis: The Autism Society applauds this resolution. This legislation will greatly improve the lives of students with ASD. At the May 19 House Education and Labor Committee hearing titled, "Examining the Abusive and Deadly Use of Seclusion and Restraint in Schools," experts declared that Positive Behavior Supports reduce the number of incidence of seclusion and restraint, as well as generally make for more positive and safer school environments.

Take Action by Asking Your Congressional Representative to Cosponsor this Legislation!

 GLOBAL AUTISM ISSUES

Global Autism Assistance Act: H.R. 1878

Summary: Introduced on May 21, 2009 by Representative Phil Hare (D-IL), the Global Autism Assistance Act, [HR 1878] would fund programs addressing autism in the developing world. This legislation, would authorize $10 million over three years for service providers and advocacy groups for children with autism specifically in countries with weak healthcare infrastructure and help America regain its leadership position around the world. The Act would fund small grants to raise autism awareness and create new ways to share American expertise and advancements in the diagnoses and treatment of autism with families and medical professionals in countries that have yet to focus on the worldwide increase in the prevalence of autism. It would also establish a "teach the teachers" program in which qualified U.S. specialists would train education and health professionals working with children with autism in the developing world. The program would host multiple workshops to enable American education, medical, and psychological specialists to share their expertise with parents and health and education professionals in the program's pilot regions. This is designed to help create a new corps of professionals in the pilot regions who can then fan out and help others further their autism assistance programs on their own.

 Read the resolution's full text. We recommend accessing www.thomas.gov, the official US Congressional legislative information website, and searching "HR 1878" for information on the bill's status and cosponsors. Unfortunately, due to the design of the Thomas website, we are unable to provide direct links.

Autism Society's Analysis: Autism Society is very excited by this legislation and its commitment to serve all people affected by autism. Autism Society sees representatives who cosponsor this legislation as leading the way to a world in which all people with autism get the supports they need.

Take Action by Asking Your Congressional Representative to Cosponsor this Legislation!

AUTISM AWARENESS

Autism Awareness House Concurrent Resolution: H.C.R. 96

 Summary: Introduced by Rep. Doyle [PA-14] on April 2, 2009, this resolution seeks to recognize the importance of autism awareness and support efforts to increase the funding for research about autism and training and support for people affected by autism.

Read the resolution's full text. We recommend accessing www.thomas.gov, the official US Congressional legislative information website, and searching "HCR 96" for information on the bill's status and cosponsors. Unfortunately, due to the design of the Thomas website, we are unable to provide direct links.

Autism Society's Analysis: The Autism Society applauds this resolution and believes that awareness is key to helping people affected by autism.

Take Action by Asking Your Congressional Representative to Cosponsor this Legislation!

April as National Autism Awareness Month Resolution: H.R. 349

Summary: Introduced by Rep. Reichert (R -WA), on behalf of himself and Representatives Gerlach (R-PA) and Bachus (R-AL) on April 21, 2009, this resolution recognizes the month of April as National Autism Awareness Month and notes the importance of devoting resources to researching the cause and treatments of autism.

Read the resolution's full text. We recommend accessing www.thomas.gov, the official US Congressional legislative information website, and searching "H Res 349" for information on the bill's status and cosponsors. Unfortunately, due to the design of the Thomas website, we are unable to provide direct links.

Autism Society's Analysis: The Autism Society applauds this resolution and believes that awareness is key to helping people affected by autism. The Autism Society thanks the 90 Representatives who have cosponsored this resolution.