ture military, industrial, medical, and scientific tal-
ent. 
(8) Although autism spectrum disorders are an 
urgent societal concern and comprehensive research 
is the best hope for understanding the causes of au-
tism and other developmental disorders, autism re-
ceives less than 5 percent of the Federal research 
funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases. 
(9) In December 2006, Congress passed and 
President Bush signed into law the ‘‘Combating Au-
tism Act of 2006,’’ which committed nearly 
$1,000,000,000 to autism research, including essen-
tial research on environmental factors, treatments, 
and early identification and support services. 
(10) A White House Conference on Autism pre-
sents an historic opportunity to build on the founda-
tion of the Combating Autism Act to advance the 
scientific study and analysis of many promising cut-
ting-edge treatments and services for autism. 
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF THE CONFERENCE. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO CALL CONFERENCE.—Not later 
than December 31, 2012, the President shall call the 
White House Conference on Autism (in this Act referred 
to as the ‘‘Conference’’) to be convened not later than 18 
months after the selection of the Policy Committee estab-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
04:11 Nov 22, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3489.IH
H3489
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
lished in section 4, in order to make fundamental policy 
recommendations on ways to combat the autism epidemic 
in the United States and to implement the purposes set 
forth in subsection (c). 
(b) PLANNING AND DIRECTION.—The Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Education, 
and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (in 
this Act referred to as the ‘‘Cochairs’’) shall plan, conduct, 
and convene the Conference, in consultation with the Sur-
geon General. 
(c) PURPOSES OF THE CONFERENCE.—The purposes 
of the Conference are to— 
(1) galvanize a national effort to find the un-
derlying cause or causes of autism; 
(2) identify viable solutions and valuable serv-
ices to help autistic individuals and families of autis-
tic individuals meet the challenges they face on a 
daily basis; 
(3) bring together the best scientific minds to 
chart a comprehensive research agenda, including 
the exploration of potential environmental triggers 
or contributors; 
(4) bring together parents of autistic children 
and leaders in the field of education and social serv-
ices to begin a national dialogue about addressing 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
04:11 Nov 22, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3489.IH
H3489
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
the life-long challenges faced by these children and 
their families; 
(5) highlight emerging and innovative programs 
from the public and private sectors, including com-
munity-based and faith-based organizations that ef-
fectively serve the needs of autistic children and 
adults and recommend such programs as can be rea-
sonably and cost-effectively replicated; and 
(6) review the current structure, scope, and ef-
fectiveness of existing legislation and programs at 
the Federal, State, and local levels that provide au-
tism research services; and to develop such specific 
and comprehensive recommendations for legislative 
action as may be appropriate for improving those 
bills and programs with the aim of enhancing the 
health, quality of life and well-being of autistic indi-
viduals and their families. 
SEC. 4. POLICY COMMITTEE; RELATED COMMITTEES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than September 30, 
2011, there is established a Policy Committee comprising 
of 17 members to be selected as follows: 
(1) PRESIDENTIAL
APPOINTEES.—Nine mem-
bers shall be selected by the President and shall in-
clude— 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
04:11 Nov 22, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3489.IH
H3489
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(A) 3 members who are officers or employ-
ees of the United States, including the Surgeon 
General; and 
(B) 6 members with experience in address-
ing the needs of people with autism spectrum 
disorders in the United States. 
(2) HOUSE APPOINTEES.— 
(A) Two members shall be selected by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives after 
consultation with the chairperson of the Com-
mittee on Education and Labor, and the chair-
person of the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce, of the House of Representatives. 
(B) Two members shall be selected by the 
minority leader of the House of Representa-
tives, after consultation with the ranking minor-
ity members of such committees. 
(3) SENATE APPOINTEES.— 
(A) Two members shall be selected by the 
majority leader of the Senate, after consultation 
with members of the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the Com-
mittee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 
of the Senate. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
04:11 Nov 22, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3489.IH
H3489
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(B) Two members shall be selected by the 
minority leader of the Senate, after consultation 
with members of such committees. 
(b) SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS.—Of the members of 
the Policy Committee appointed under paragraph 
(a)(1)(B), (a)(2), and (a)(3), 50 percent must be drawn 
from private industry, the nonprofit sector, or academia, 
of whom— 
(1) at least 1 shall be a parent or legal guard-
ian of individuals with autism or other pervasive de-
velopmental disorders; 
(2) at least 1 other shall be knowledgeable 
about autism intervention programs and systems, in-
cluding complementary and alternative therapies; 
(3) at least 1 other shall be knowledgeable 
about programs specifically designed to meet the 
unique educational needs of children and adults with 
autism; 
(4) at least 1 other shall be knowledgeable 
about programs specifically designed to meet the 
unique housing needs of children and adults with au-
tism; 
(5) at least 1 other shall be knowledgeable 
about programs specifically designed to train and 
educate law enforcement and criminal justice offi-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
04:11 Nov 22, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3489.IH
H3489
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
cials to respond to the unique needs of children and 
adults with autism; and 
(6) at least 1 other shall be knowledgeable 
about environmental or toxic exposure of adults and 
children as it relates to the development of autism. 
(c) VOTING; CHAIRPERSON.— 
(1) VOTING.—The Policy Committee shall act 
by the vote of a majority of the members present. 
A quorum of Committee members shall be required 
to conduct Committee business. 
(2) CHAIRPERSON.—The Surgeon General shall 
serve as the chairperson of the Policy Committee. 
The chairperson may vote only to break a tie vote 
of the other members of the Policy Committee. 
(d) DUTIES OF THE POLICY COMMITTEE.—The Pol-
icy Committee shall initially meet at the call of the Co-
chairs, not later than 30 days after the last member is 
selected under subsection (a). Subsequent meetings of the 
Policy Committee shall be held at the call of the chair-
person. Through meetings, hearings, and working ses-
sions, the Policy Committee shall— 
(1) make recommendations to the Cochairs to 
facilitate the timely convening of the Conference; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
04:11 Nov 22, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3489.IH
H3489
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(2) submit to the Cochairs a proposed agenda 
for the Conference not later than 90 days after the 
first meeting of the Policy Committee; 
(3) make recommendations for the delegates of 
the Conference; 
(4) establish the number of delegates to be se-
lected under section 5; and 
(5) establish an executive committee consisting 
of 3 members of the Policy Committee to work with 
delegates of the Conference. 
SEC. 5. CONFERENCE DELEGATES. 
To carry out the purposes of the Conference, the Co-
chairs shall bring together delegates representative of the 
spectrum of thought in the field of autism and 
neurodevelopmental disorders, without regard to political 
affiliation or past partisan activity, who shall include— 
(1) representatives of Federal, State, and local 
governments; 
(2) professional people and laypeople who are 
working 
in 
the 
field 
of 
autism 
and 
neurodevelopmental disorders; and 
(3) representatives of the general public who 
are affected by autism spectrum disorders in the 
United States. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
04:11 Nov 22, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3489.IH
H3489
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 6. CONFERENCE ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) ADMINISTRATION.—In administering this section, 
the Cochairs shall— 
(1) provide written notice to all members of the 
Policy Committee of each meeting, hearing, or work-
ing session of such Committee not later than 48 
hours before the occurrence of such meeting, hear-
ing, or working session; 
(2) request the cooperation and assistance of 
the heads of such other Federal departments and 
agencies as may be appropriate, including the detail-
ing of personnel; 
(3) make available for public comment a pro-
posed agenda prepared by the Policy Committee, 
which will reflect to the greatest extent possible the 
major issues facing the field of autism consistent 
with the purposes of the Conference set forth in sec-
tion 3(c); 
(4) prepare and make available background ma-
terials that the Cochairs deem necessary for the use 
of delegates to the Conference; and 
(5) employ such additional personnel as may be 
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act 
without regard to provisions of title 5, United States 
Code, governing appointments in the competitive 
service, and without regard to chapter 51 and sub-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
04:11 Nov 22, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3489.IH
H3489
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
chapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to 
classification and General Schedule pay rates. 
(b) DUTIES.—In carrying out the Cochairs’s respon-
sibilities and functions under this section, the Cochairs 
shall ensure that— 
(1) the proposed agenda prepared under sub-
section (a)(3) is published in the Federal Register 
not later than 30 days after such agenda is approved 
by the Policy Committee; 
(2) the personnel employed under subsection 
(a)(5) are fairly balanced in terms of points of views 
represented and are appointed without regard to po-
litical affiliation or previous partisan activities; 
(3) the recommendations of the Conference are 
not inappropriately influenced by any public official 
or by any special interest, but instead are the result 
of the independent and collective judgment of the 
delegates of the Conference; and 
(4) before the Conference is convened— 
(A) current and adequate statistical data 
(including decennial census data) and other in-
formation on autism spectrum disorders in the 
United States; and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
04:11 Nov 22, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3489.IH
H3489
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(B) such information as may be necessary 
to evaluate Federal programs and policies relat-
ing to autism spectrum disorders; 
which the Cochairs may obtain by making grants to 
or entering into an agreement with, public agencies 
or nonprofit organizations, are readily available in 
advance of the Conference to the delegates. 
(c) GIFTS.—The Cochairs may accept, on behalf of 
the United States, gifts (in cash or in kind, including vol-
untary and uncompensated services), which shall be avail-
able to carry out this Act. Gifts of cash shall be available 
in addition to amounts appropriated to carry out this title. 
Gifts may be earmarked by the donor or the executive 
committee for a specific purpose. 
(d) RECORDS.—The Cochairs shall maintain records 
regarding— 
(1) the sources, amounts, and uses of gifts ac-
cepted under subsection (c); and 
(2) the identity of each person receiving assist-
ance to carry out this Act, and the amount of such 
assistance received by each such person. 
SEC. 7. REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE. 
(a) PRELIMINARY REPORT.—Not later than 100 days 
after the Conference adjourns, the Policy Committee shall 
prepare a preliminary report on the Conference which 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
04:11 Nov 22, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3489.IH
H3489
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
shall be published in the Federal Register and submitted 
to the chief executive officers of the States. The Policy 
Committee shall request that the chief executive officers 
of the States submit to the Policy Committee, not later 
than 45 days after receiving such report, their views and 
findings on such report. 
(b) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after 
the date on which the Conference adjourns, the Policy 
Committee shall— 
(1) prepare a final report of the Conference 
which shall include a compilation of the views and 
findings of the chief executive officers of the States 
received under subsection (a); and 
(2) publish in the Federal Register, and trans-
mit to the President and to Congress, the rec-
ommendations for the administrative action and the 
legislation necessary to implement the recommenda-
tions contained in such report. 
SEC. 8. STATUS REPORTS. 
(a) INITIAL STATUS REPORT.—Not later than 2 
years after the date on which the Conference adjourns, 
the Surgeon General shall— 
(1) prepare a status report documenting the im-
plementation of the recommendations contained in 
the final report described in section 7(b)(1); and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
04:11 Nov 22, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3489.IH
H3489
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(2) publish in the Federal Register, and trans-
mit to the President and to Congress, such status 
report. 
(b) SUBSEQUENT STATUS REPORTS.—Not later than 
5 years after the date on which the Conference adjourns, 
and every 5 years thereafter until all recommendations in 
the final report described in section 7(b)(1) are achieved, 
the Comptroller General shall— 
(1) prepare a status report documenting the im-
plementation of the recommendations contained in 
such final report; and 
(2) publish in the Federal Register, and trans-
mit to the President and to Congress, such status 
report. 
SEC. 9. DEFINITION OF STATE. 
For the purposes of this Act, the term ‘‘State’’ means 
any of the several States, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, 
the Virgin Islands of the United States, or the Common-
wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this Act— 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
04:11 Nov 22, 2011
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3489.IH
H3489
smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS