CV NEWS FEED // The House of Representatives passed a pro-life congressman’s bill that proposes improving support for autistic Americans in a 402-13 vote on September 18.
The bipartisan bill, HR 7213 or the Autism CARES Act, was authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), according to his website, and it provides over $1.95 billion “to reauthorize and strengthen the United States’ whole-of-government autism spectrum disorder (ASD) initiative through 2029.”
Smith stated that the Autism CARES Act “will help make a huge difference in the lives of the millions of Americans with autism by providing robust funding for durable remedies as well as effective early detection and intervention services to allow them the highest quality of life possible.”
He continued, “With substantive input from advocates in the autism community, my legislation will also help advance key research priorities and ensure enhanced collaboration between federal agencies and families and individuals with autism.”
The new legislation will fund research regarding the autistic spectrum disorder to improve care and support for Americans with autism.
Dr. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, explained,
Through this bill, we continue important work in understanding the causes of autism, the best ways to treat autism, and incorporate the voices of those previously missed by research. I would like to thank Representative Chris Smith for his leadership on this important legislation.
The bill has received support from America’s leading autism advocacy groups, including Autism Speaks, the Autism Society, and the Autism Science Foundation.
Smith has authored four major laws on autism, according to his website, and he began his involvement in autism advocacy when two parents from New Jersey told him they needed more support for their children who had autism.
Smith also has a strong pro-life and pro-family record, and he criticized the Supreme Court’s decision that Idaho doctors had to perform abortions under certain circumstances, as CatholicVote previously reported.
