ABA and Autism

[Guest guest]

Please take the time to pass along and support the below

bill. Also, the bill could be greatly enhanced by making

reference to Board Certified Analyst's being able to get

payment for treating autism.

Joe

AUTISM ACTION ALERT

Senate Bill S.843 " Combating Autism Act of 2005 "

2 May 2005

On April 19th U.S. Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA) and

Dodd (D-CT) introduced the Combating Autism Act

of 2005 (S.843), a bipartisan bill that could significantly

expand the federal government's response to the autism

epidemic. S.843 commits an unprecedented $860 million in

federal funds to combat autism through research, screening,

intervention and education efforts, in effect doubling the

National Institutes of Health's current autism funding level.

The Senators were joined by representatives from all major

national autism organizations, including Cure Autism Now, the

National Alliance for Autism Research, Autism Speaks, and the

Autism Society of America.

How can you help?

We urge you to join concerned families fighting to secure the

sponsorship of the " Combating Autism Act of 2005 " required to

enact this legislation. You can help by contacting your home

state Senators in Washington D.C. and asking them to co-

sponsor the " Combating Autism Act of 2005, " known as S.843.

This is the most important and comprehensive autism-related

legislation since the Children's Health Act of 2000, which

expires this year. If we join our voices through this

organized effort, we can get the Combating Autism Act enacted

this year. Make your voice heard now:

1. Click here to Telephone your US Senators

2. Click here to Fax a letter to your US

Senators

3. Click here to E-mail a letter to your US

Senators

When you contact your Senator, please invite him or her to

contact Jen Vesey with Senator Santorum at (202) 224-6324 or

Jim Fenton with Senator Dodd at (202) 224-2823 about co-

sponsoring this bill.

About the Combating Autism Act of 2005

The proposed legislation builds on the provisions of the

Children's Health Act of 2000 and would authorize $860

million over five years to significantly strengthen and

coordinate all federal activities related to autism research,

screening, early diagnosis and treatment. Specifically, the

legislation would:

Require the Director of the National Institutes of Health

(NIH) to coordinate all autism-related research efforts,

identify NIH expenditures related to autism research, and

develop a strategic plan to combat autism.

Reauthorize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's

epidemiological surveillance program with $12 million a year

for the next 5 years to enhance our understanding of autism's

prevalence, and authorize $25 million a year for the next

five years for technical assistance and data management to

states related to autism screening, diagnosis and

intervention programs.

Task the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to

develop a program of information and education on autism and

its risk factors for health professionals and the general

public. The legislation authorizes $10 million a year for the

next 5 years for early identification and prompt referral for

services and education for parents and requires an annual

report to Congress.

Reauthorize the federal Autism Coordinating Committee, an

entity first created by the Children's Health Act of 2000

that has since created a generally agreed upon " road map " for

future autism related research and prevention efforts.

Provide $75 million a year for the next five years for the

development of statewide screening, education and treatment

programs for autism.

Require the Secretary of HHS to report annually to Congress

regarding federal efforts to research and prevent autism.

Task the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

to create Centers of Excellence devoted to investigating

possible environmental contributors to autism.

For more information and a section-by-section summary of the

bill, please click here.

On behalf of all those affected by autism, we thank you for

your support and ask that you please forward this email to as

many people as possible. With your efforts, we can make a

true difference in accelerating the pace and progress of

autism research, and directly impact the lives of all of us

affected by autism.

H. Bell

Chief Executive Officer

Cure Autism Now

5455 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 715

Los Angeles, CA 90036

1-888-8AUTISM

www.cureautismnow.org