SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) Infantile autism and autism spectrum dis-
orders are biologically-based neurodevelopmental dis-
eases that cause severe impairments in language and
communication and generally manifest in young chil-
dren sometime during the first two years of life.
(2) Best estimates indicate that 1 in 500 chil-
dren born today will be diagnosed with an autism
spectrum disorder and that 400,000 Americans have
autism or an autism spectrum disorder.
(3) There is little information on the prevalence
of autism and other pervasive developmental disabil-
ities in the United States. There have never been
any national prevalence studies in the United States,
and the two studies that were conducted in the
1980s examined only selected areas of the country.
Recent studies in Canada, Europe, and Japan sug-
gest that the prevalence of classic autism alone may
be 300 percent to 400 percent higher than pre-
viously estimated.
(4) Three-quarters of those with infantile au-
tism spend their adult lives in institutions or group
homes, and usually enter institutions by the age of
13.
(5) The cost of caring for individuals with au-
tism and autism spectrum disorder is great, and is
estimated to be $13.3 billion per year solely for di-
rect costs.
(6) The rapid advancements in biomedical
science suggest that effective treatments and a cure
for autism are attainable if—
(A) there is appropriate coordination of the
efforts of the various agencies of the Federal
Government involved in biomedical research on
autism and autism spectrum disorders;
(B) there is an increased understanding of
autism and autism spectrum disorders by the
scientific and medical communities involved in
autism research and treatment; and
(C) sufficient funds are allocated to re-
search.
(7) The discovery of effective treatments and a
cure for autism will be greatly enhanced when sci-
entists and epidemiologists have an accurate under-
standing of the prevalence and incidence of autism.
(8) Recent research suggests that environ-
mental factors may contribute to autism. As a re-
sult, contributing causes of autism, if identified, may
be preventable.
(9) Finding the answers to the causes of autism
and related developmental disabilities may help re-
searchers to understand other disorders, ranging
from learning problems, to hyperactivity, to commu-
nications deficits that affect millions of Americans.
(10) Specifically, more knowledge is needed
concerning—
(A) the underlying causes of autism and
autism spectrum disorders, how to treat the un-
derlying abnormality or abnormalities causing
the severe symptoms of autism, and how to pre-
vent these abnormalities from occurring in the
future;
(B) the epidemiology of, and the identifica-
tion of risk factors for, infantile autism and au-
tism spectrum disorders;
(C) the development of methods for early
medical diagnosis and functional assessment of
individuals with autism and autism spectrum
disorders, including identification and assess-
ment of the subtypes within the autism spec-
trum disorders, for the purpose of monitoring
the course of the disease and developing medi-
cally sound strategies for improving the out-
comes of such individuals;
(D) existing biomedical and diagnostic
data that are relevant to autism and autism
spectrum disorders for dissemination to medical
personnel, particularly pediatricians, to aid in
the early diagnosis and treatment of this dis-
ease; and
(E) the costs incurred in educating and
caring for individuals with autism and autism
spectrum disorders.
(11) In 1998, the National Institutes of Health
announced a program of research on autism and au-
tism spectrum disorders. A sufficient level of fund-
ing should be made available for carrying out the
program.
SEC. 3. EXPANSION, INTENSIFICATION, AND COORDINA-
TION OF ACTIVITIES OF NATIONAL INSTI-
TUTES OF HEALTH WITH RESPECT TO RE-
SEARCH ON AUTISM.
Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 284 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
the following section:
‘‘AUTISM
‘‘SEC. 409C. (a) IN GENERAL.—
‘‘(1) EXPANSION OF ACTIVITIES.—The Director
of NIH (in this section referred to as the ‘Director’)
shall expand, intensify, and coordinate the activities
of the National Institutes of Health with respect to
research on autism.
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM; COLLABO-
RATION AMONG AGENCIES.—The Director shall carry
out this section acting through the Director of the
National Institute of Mental Health and in collabo-
ration with any other agencies that the Director de-
termines appropriate.
‘‘(b) CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall under
subsection (a)(1) make awards of grants and con-
tracts to public or nonprofit private entities to pay
all or part of the cost of planning, establishing, im-
proving, and providing basic operating support for
centers of excellence regarding research on autism.
‘‘(2) RESEARCH.—Each center under para-
graph (1) shall conduct basic and clinical research
into the cause, diagnosis, early detection, prevention,
control, and treatment of autism, including research
in the fields of developmental neurobiology, genetics,
and psychopharmacology.
‘‘(3) SERVICES FOR PATIENTS.—A center under
paragraph (1) may expend amounts provided under
such paragraph to carry out a program to make in-
dividuals aware of opportunities to participate as
subjects in research conducted by the centers. The
program may provide fees to such subjects. The pro-
gram may, in accordance with such criteria as the
Director may establish, provide to such subjects
health care, referrals for health and other services,
and such incidental services as will facilitate the par-
ticipation of individuals as such subjects.
‘‘(4) COORDINATION OF CENTERS; REPORTS.—
The Director shall, as appropriate, provide for the
coordination of information among centers under
paragraph (1) and ensure regular communication
between such centers, and may require the periodic
preparation of reports on the activities of the centers
and the submission of the reports to the Director.
‘‘(5) ORGANIZATION OF CENTERS.—Each cen-
ter under paragraph (1) shall use the facilities of a
single institution, or be formed from a consortium of
cooperating institutions, meeting such requirements
as may be prescribed by the Director.
‘‘(6) NUMBER OF CENTERS; DURATION OF SUP-
PORT.—The Director shall, subject to the extent of
amounts made available in appropriations Acts, pro-
vide for the establishment of not less than five cen-
ters under paragraph (1). Support of such a center
may be for a period not exceeding 5 years. Such pe-