I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2421 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to combat autism through research, 
screening, intervention and education. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 18, 2005 
Mrs. BONO (for herself and Ms. DEGETTE) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to combat autism 
through research, screening, intervention and education. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Combating Autism Act 
of 2005’’. 
SEC. 2. DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SURVEILLANCE 
AND RESEARCH PROGRAM. 
(a) SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM; CENTERS OF EXCEL-
LENCE; CLEARINGHOUSE.—Section 102(e) of the Chil-
dren’s Health Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 247b–4b) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘There are authorized’’ and all that follows 
and inserting the following: ‘‘For the purpose of carrying 
out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated 
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006 and 
each subsequent fiscal year.’’. 
(b) ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS.—Title III of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241 et seq.) is amended 
by adding at the end thereof the following: 
‘‘PART R—PROGRAMS RELATING TO AUTISM 
‘‘SEC. 399AA. INFORMATION AND EDUCATION RELATING TO 
AUTISM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
and implement a program to provide information and edu-
cation on autism and its risk factors to health profes-
sionals and the general public, including information and 
education on advances in the diagnosis and treatment of 
autism and training and continuing education through 
programs for scientists, physicians, and other health pro-
fessionals who provide care for patients with autism. The 
program shall place special emphasis on early identifica-
tion of autism and those at risk for autism and prompt 
referral for appropriate services. 
‘‘(b) STIPENDS.—The Secretary may use amounts 
made available under this section to provide stipends for
health professionals who are enrolled in training programs 
under this section. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, 
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011. 
‘‘SEC. 399BB. INTERAGENCY AUTISM COORDINATING COM-
MITTEE. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a committee to be known as the ‘Autism Coordinating 
Committee’ (in this section referred to as the ‘Committee’) 
to coordinate all efforts within the Department of Health 
and Human Services concerning autism, including activi-
ties carried out through the National Institutes of Health 
and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under 
the amendments made by the National Autism Research 
Act. 
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Committee shall be 
composed of— 
‘‘(A) the Director of the Centers for Dis-
ease Control and Prevention; 
‘‘(B) the Directors of such national re-
search institutes of the National Institutes of 
Health as the Secretary determines appropriate;
‘‘(C) the heads of such other agencies as 
the Secretary determines appropriate; and 
‘‘(D) the additional members appointed 
under paragraph (2) (if any). 
‘‘(2) ADDITIONAL
MEMBERS.—If determined 
appropriate by the Secretary, the Secretary may ap-
point to the Committee— 
‘‘(A) individuals with autism or other per-
vasive developmental disorders; 
‘‘(B) parents or legal guardians of individ-
uals with autism or other pervasive develop-
mental disorders; 
‘‘(C) representatives of leading autism re-
search and service organizations; and 
‘‘(D) representatives of other governmental 
agencies that serve children with autism such 
as the Department of Education. 
‘‘(c) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT; TERMS OF SERV-
ICES; OTHER PROVISIONS.—The following shall apply 
with respect to the Committee: 
‘‘(1) The Committee shall receive necessary and 
appropriate administrative support from the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(2) Members of the Committee appointed 
under subsection (b)(2)(A) shall serve for a term of
3 years, and may serve for an unlimited number of 
terms if reappointed. 
‘‘(3) The Committee shall meet not less than 2 
times each year. 
‘‘SEC. 399CC. SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT OF 
AUTISM; MEDICAL CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS 
WITH AUTISM. 
‘‘(a) STATEWIDE AUTISM SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS, 
AND INTERVENTION PROGRAMS AND SYSTEMS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Administrator of the Health Resources 
and Services Administration, shall award grants or 
cooperative agreements to eligible entities to develop 
statewide autism screening, diagnosis, and interven-
tion programs and systems for the purposes de-
scribed in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) PURPOSES.—The purposes described in 
this paragraph are the following: 
‘‘(A) To develop and monitor the efficacy 
of statewide autism screening, diagnosis, and 
intervention programs and systems, ensuring 
that all children are screened for autism before 
their second birthday, and that children at risk 
for autism receive appropriate services as early 
as possible. Intervention includes referral to