II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7213 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 

Received 

AN ACT 

To amend the Public Health Service Act to enhance and 

reauthorize activities and programs relating to autism 

spectrum disorder, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Autism Collaboration, 

3 Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 

4 2024’’ or the ‘‘Autism CARES Act of 2024’’. 

5 SEC. 2. NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH ACTIVITIES. 

6 (a) EXPANSION OF ACTIVITIES.—Section 409C(a)(1) 

7 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284g(a)(1)) 

8 is amended— 

9 (1) by striking ‘‘) shall, subject to the avail10 ability’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘), in consulta11 tion with relevant Federal departments and agen12 cies, as appropriate, shall— 

13 ‘‘(A) subject to the availability’’; 

14 (2) by striking ‘‘basic and clinical research in 

15 fields including pathology’’ and inserting the fol16 lowing: ‘‘basic and clinical research— 

17 ‘‘(i) in fields, such as pathology’’; 

18 (3) by striking ‘‘toxicology, and interventions’’ 

19 and inserting the following: ‘‘toxicology, psychiatry, 

20 psychology, developmental behavioral pediatrics, 

21 audiology, and gerontology; and 

22 ‘‘(ii) on interventions’’; 

23 (4) by striking ‘‘disorder. Such research shall 

24 investigate’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘disorder; 

25 and 


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1 ‘‘(B) ensure that research referred to in 

2 subparagraph (A)— 

3 ‘‘(i) investigates’’; 

4 (5) by striking ‘‘prevention, services across the 

5 lifespan, supports, intervention, and treatment of 

6 autism spectrum disorder’’ and inserting ‘‘preven7 tion, services and supports across the lifespan, inter8 vention, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder 

9 and co-occurring conditions’’; and 

10 (6) by striking ‘‘treatments.’’ and inserting the 

11 following: ‘‘treatments; 

12 ‘‘(ii) examines supports for caregivers; 

13 and 

14 ‘‘(iii) reflects the entire population of 

15 individuals with autism spectrum disorder, 

16 including those individuals with co-occur17 ring conditions and the full range of needs 

18 for supports and services, including such 

19 supports and services to ensure the safety, 

20 and promote the well-being, of such indi21 viduals.’’. 

22 (b) CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.—Section 409C(b) of 

23 the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284g(b)) is 

24 amended— 

25 (1) in paragraph (2)— 


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1 (A) by striking ‘‘including the fields of’’ 

2 and inserting ‘‘in fields such as’’; and 

3 (B) by striking ‘‘behavioral psychology, 

4 and clinical psychology’’ and inserting ‘‘behav5 ioral psychology, clinical psychology, and geron6 tology’’; 

7 (2) in paragraph (5)(A), by striking ‘‘five’’ and 

8 inserting ‘‘seven’’; and 

9 (3) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking ‘‘period of 

10 not to exceed’’ and inserting ‘‘period not to exceed’’. 

11 (c) PUBLIC INPUT.—Section 409C(d) of the Public 

12 Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284g(d)) is amended to 

13 read as follows: 

14 ‘‘(d) PUBLIC INPUT.— 

15 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall under 

16 subsection (a)(1) provide for means through which 

17 the public can obtain information on the existing 

18 and planned programs and activities of the National 

19 Institutes of Health with respect to autism spectrum 

20 disorder and through which the Director can receive 

21 comments from the public regarding such programs 

22 and activities. 

23 ‘‘(2) GUIDANCE.—The Director may provide 

24 guidance to centers under subsection (b)(1) on strat25 egies, activities, and opportunities to promote enVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:13 Nov 22, 2024 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7213.RDS H7213

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1 gagement with, and solicit input from, individuals 

2 with autism spectrum disorder and their family 

3 members, guardians, advocates or authorized rep4 resentatives, providers, or other appropriate individ5 uals to inform the activities of the center. Such 

6 strategies, activities, and opportunities should con7 sider including, as appropriate, individuals, family 

8 members, and caregivers of individuals with autism 

9 spectrum disorder who represent the entire popu10 lation of individuals with autism spectrum disorder, 

11 including those individuals with co-occurring condi12 tions and the full range of needs for supports and 

13 services, including such supports and services to en14 sure the safety, and promote the well-being, of such 

15 individuals, to inform the activities of the center.’’. 

16 (d) BUDGET ESTIMATE.—Section 409C of the Public 

17 Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284g) is amended by add18 ing at the end the following: 

19 ‘‘(e) BUDGET ESTIMATE.—For each of fiscal years 

20 2026 through 2029, the Director shall prepare and sub21 mit, directly to the President for review and transmittal 

22 to Congress, an annual budget estimate for the initiatives 

23 of the National Institutes of Health pursuant to the stra24 tegic plan developed under section 399CC(b)(5) and up25 dated under section 399CC(b)(6)(B), after reasonable opVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:13 Nov 22, 2024 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7213.RDS H7213

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1 portunity for comment (but without change) by the Sec2 retary and the Interagency Autism Coordinating Com3 mittee established under section 399CC.’’. 

4 SEC. 3. PROGRAMS RELATING TO AUTISM. 

5 (a) DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SURVEILLANCE

6 AND RESEARCH PROGRAM.—Section 399AA of the Public 

7 Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i) is amended— 

8 (1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ‘‘an Indian 

9 tribe, or a tribal organization’’ and inserting ‘‘an In10 dian Tribe, or a Tribal organization’’; 

11 (2) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ‘‘across 

12 the lifespan’’ before the period at the end; 

13 (3) in subsection (d)(1)— 

14 (A) in the paragraph heading, by striking 

15 ‘‘TRIBE; TRIBAL’’ and inserting ‘‘TRIBE; TRIB16 AL’’; 

17 (B) by striking ‘‘tribe’’ and inserting 

18 ‘‘Tribe’’; and 

19 (C) by striking ‘‘tribal’’ and inserting 

20 ‘‘Tribal’’; and 

21 (4) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘2024’’ and 

22 inserting ‘‘2029’’. 

23 (b) AUTISM EDUCATION, EARLY DETECTION, AND

24 INTERVENTION.—Section 399BB of the Public Health 

25 Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i–1) is amended— 


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1 (1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘culturally 

2 competent information’’ and inserting ‘‘culturally 

3 and linguistically appropriate information’’; 

4 (2) in subsection (b)(2)— 

5 (A) by striking ‘‘promote research’’ and in6 serting ‘‘promote research, which may include 

7 research that takes a community-based ap8 proach,’’; and 

9 (B) by striking ‘‘screening tools’’ each 

10 place it appears and inserting ‘‘screening and 

11 diagnostic tools’’; 

12 (3) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ‘‘at higher 

13 risk’’ and inserting ‘‘at increased likelihood’’; 

14 (4) in subsection (b)(4), by inserting ‘‘, which 

15 may give consideration to the perspectives of parents 

16 and guardians’’ before the semicolon at the end; 

17 (5) in subsection (b)(7), by striking ‘‘at higher 

18 risk’’ and inserting ‘‘at increased likelihood’’; 

19 (6) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘culturally 

20 competent information’’ and inserting ‘‘culturally 

21 and linguistically appropriate information’’; 

22 (7) in subsection (c)(2)(A)(ii), by striking ‘‘cul23 turally competent information’’ and inserting ‘‘cul24 turally and linguistically appropriate information’’; 


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1 (8) by amending paragraph (1) of subsection 

2 (e) to read as follows: 

3 (9) in subsection (e)(1)— 

4 (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 

5 (A), by inserting ‘‘, and strengthen the capacity 

6 of,’’ after ‘‘expand’’; and 

7 (B) in subparagraph (A)— 

8 (i) by striking ‘‘expand existing or de9 velop new’’ and inserting ‘‘expand and 

10 strengthen the capacity of existing, or, in 

11 States that do not have such a program, 

12 develop new,’’; and 

13 (ii) by striking ‘‘Act) in States that do 

14 not have such a program’’ and inserting 

15 ‘‘Act)’’; 

16 (C) in subparagraph (B)(v), by inserting 

17 ‘‘or other providers, as applicable’’ before the 

18 semicolon at the end; and 

19 (D) by amending subparagraph (C) to read 

20 as follows: 

21 ‘‘(C) program sites— 

22 ‘‘(i) provide culturally and linguis23 tically appropriate services; 


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1 ‘‘(ii) take a multidisciplinary approach 

2 and have experience working with under3 served populations; and 

4 ‘‘(iii) identify opportunities to partner 

5 with community-based organizations to ex6 pand the capacity of communities to serve 

7 individuals with autism spectrum disorder 

8 or other developmental disabilities.’’; 

9 (10) in subsection (e)(2), by adding at the end 

10 the following new subparagraph: 

11 ‘‘(C) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years 

12 after the date of the enactment of the Autism 

13 CARES Act of 2024, the Secretary shall submit 

14 to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of 

15 the House of Representatives and the Com16 mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pen17 sions of the Senate a report that examines the 

18 need for, and feasibility of, expanding the devel19 opmental-behavioral pediatrician training pro20 grams described in subparagraph (A).’’; 

21 (11) by amending subsection (f) to read as fol22 lows: 

23 ‘‘(f) INTERVENTION.—The Secretary shall promote 

24 research through grants or contracts, which may include 

25 grants or contracts to research centers or networks, to— 


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1 ‘‘(1) develop and evaluate evidence-based prac2 tices and interventions to improve outcomes for indi3 viduals with autism spectrum disorder or other de4 velopmental disabilities by addressing physical and 

5 behavioral health and communication needs of such 

6 individuals across the lifespan; 

7 ‘‘(2) develop guidelines for such evidence-based 

8 practices and interventions; and 

9 ‘‘(3) disseminate information related to such 

10 evidence-based practices and interventions and 

11 guidelines.’’; and 

12 (12) in subsection (g), by striking ‘‘2024’’ and 

13 inserting ‘‘2029’’. 

14 (c) INTERAGENCY AUTISM COORDINATING COM15 MITTEE.—Section 399CC of the Public Health Service Act 

16 (42 U.S.C. 280i–2) is amended— 

17 (1) in subsection (b)— 

18 (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 

19 by inserting ‘‘, on a regular basis’’ after 

20 ‘‘shall’’; 

21 (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘develop 

22 a summary’’ and inserting ‘‘summarize’’; and 

23 (C) by striking paragraphs (5) and (6) and 

24 inserting the following: 


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1 ‘‘(5) develop a strategic plan for the conduct of, 

2 and support for, autism spectrum disorder research, 

3 as described in section 409C(a)(1), which shall in4 clude— 

5 ‘‘(A) proposed budgetary requirements; 

6 and 

7 ‘‘(B) recommendations to ensure that au8 tism spectrum disorder research, and services 

9 and support activities to the extent practicable, 

10 of the Department of Health and Human Serv11 ices and of other Federal departments and 

12 agencies are not unnecessarily duplicative; and 

13 ‘‘(6) submit to the Congress and the Presi14 dent— 

15 ‘‘(A) an annual update on the summary of 

16 advances described in paragraph (2); and 

17 ‘‘(B) a biennial update on the strategic 

18 plan described in paragraph (5), including 

19 progress made in achieving the goals outlined in 

20 such strategic plan and any specific measures 

21 taken pursuant to such strategic plan.’’; and 

22 (2) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘2024’’ and 

23 inserting ‘‘2029’’. 


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1 (d) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Section 399DD of the 

2 Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i–3) is amend3 ed— 

4 (1) by striking ‘‘2019’’ each place it appears 

5 and inserting ‘‘2024’’; and 

6 (2) in subsection (a), by amending paragraph 

7 (1) to read as follows: 

8 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 4 years 

9 after September 30, 2024, the Secretary, in con10 sultation with other relevant Federal departments 

11 and agencies, shall prepare and submit to the Com12 mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

13 of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and 

14 Commerce of the House of Representatives, and 

15 make publicly available, including through posting 

16 on the website of the Department of Health and 

17 Human Services, a progress report on activities re18 lated to autism spectrum disorder and other develop19 mental disabilities. Such report shall include activi20 ties and research related to the entire population of 

21 individuals with autism spectrum disorder, including 

22 those individuals with co-occurring conditions and 

23 the full range of needs for supports and services, in24 cluding such supports and services to ensure the 


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1 safety, and promote the well-being, of such individ2 uals.’’; 

3 (3) in subsection (b)— 

4 (A) in the heading of subsection (b), by 

5 striking ‘‘HEALTH AND WELL-BEING’’ and in6 serting ‘‘MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS’’; 

7 (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘health 

8 and well-being’’ and inserting ‘‘mental health 

9 needs’’; and 

10 (C) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 

11 follows: 

12 ‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—The report submitted under 

13 paragraph (1) shall contain— 

14 ‘‘(A) an overview of policies and programs 

15 relevant to the mental health of individuals with 

16 autism spectrum disorder across their lifespan, 

17 including an identification of existing Federal 

18 laws, regulations, policies, research, and pro19 grams; and 

20 ‘‘(B) recommendations to improve mental 

21 health outcomes and address related disparities 

22 in mental health care for individuals with au23 tism spectrum disorder, including prevention, 

24 care coordination, and community-based serv25 ices.’’; 


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1 (4) by adding at the end the following: 

2 ‘‘(c) UPDATE ON YOUNG ADULTS AND YOUTH

3 TRANSITIONING TO ADULTHOOD.—Not later than 2 years 

4 after the date of enactment of the Autism CARES Act 

5 of 2024, the Secretary, in coordination with other relevant 

6 Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate, shall 

7 prepare and submit to the Committee on Energy and 

8 Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Com9 mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 

10 Senate an update to the report required pursuant to sub11 section (b) of this section, as added by section 6 of the 

12 Autism Cares Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–157), and in 

13 effect before the date of enactment of the Autism CARES 

14 Act of 2019 (Public Law 116–60), concerning young 

15 adults with autism spectrum disorder and the challenges 

16 related to the transition from existing school-based serv17 ices to those services available during adulthood.’’. 

18 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 

19 399EE of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i– 

20 4) is amended— 

21 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘$23,100,000 

22 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024’’ and in23 serting ‘‘$28,100,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 

24 through 2029’’; 


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1 (2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘$50,599,000 

2 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024’’ and in3 serting ‘‘$56,344,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 

4 through 2029’’; and 

5 (3) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘there are au6 thorized to be appropriated $296,000,000 for each 

7 of fiscal years 2020 through 2024’’ and inserting 

8 ‘‘there is authorized to be appropriated 

9 $306,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 

10 2029’’. 

11 SEC. 4. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO 

12 COMMUNICATION TOOLS. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 

14 Human Services (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Sec15 retary’’) may, at the request of a State, Indian Tribe, 

16 Tribal organization, locality, or territory, provide training 

17 and technical assistance to such jurisdiction on the man18 ner in which Federal funding administered by the Sec19 retary may be used to provide individuals with autism 

20 spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities 

21 with access to evidence-based services, tools, and tech22 nologies that support communication needs. 

23 (b) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Secretary shall annually 

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1 mittee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Rep2 resentatives a report summarizing any technical assistance 

3 provided by the Secretary in the preceding fiscal year 

4 under subsection (a) and any advancements in the devel5 opment or evaluation of such evidence-based services, 

6 tools, and technologies. 

Passed the House of Representatives September 18, 

2024. 

Attest: KEVIN F. MCCUMBER, 

Clerk. 


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