Cure Autism Now, a leading research and advocacy organization, today congratulates bill sponsors Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Christopher Dodd (D-CT) as well as the other members of the U.S. Senate for passing the Combating Autism Act of 2006 (S.843). The landmark Act, which authorizes $900 million for autism-specific funding, now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives for approval before it can be signed into law. Once signed, the Act will join a short list of \"single-disease\" legislation -- the most notable being the 1990 Ryan White CARE Act for HIV/AIDS.

\"This is a tremendous victory for the entire autism community,\" says Jonathan Shestack, co-founder of Cure Autism Now and parent of a child with autism. \"The Combating Autism Act serves as an acknowledgment that autism is a national public health crisis and will, if signed into law, allocate desperately-needed funding for research, screening, intervention and education.\"

The legislation would not have passed the Senate without the stewardship of Senators Santorum and Dodd and the efforts of Senators Michael Enzi (R-WY), Bill Frist (R-TN) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA). Several leading autism organizations formed a coalition to advance the Act by collaborating with legislators and mobilizing families across the country to focus the nation\'s attention on this epidemic that now affects as many as one in 166 children.

The Act represents years of dedicated effort by parents and families, bringing legislative action to confront the crisis of autism. The history of this important piece of legislation began with Cure Autism Now\'s grassroots leadership of the Advancement in Pediatric Autism Research Act, which later became Title 1 of the Children\'s Health Act of 2000. The Combating Autism Act that passed the Senate today, which began as a reauthorization of the autism section in the Children\'s Health Act, was originally drafted by a Cure Autism Now volunteer and parent of a child with autism.

\"The Combating Autism Act will dramatically improve the state of autism research and treatment and have a direct impact on the lives of those struggling to cope with autism today,\" says Peter Bell, president and CEO of Cure Autism Now, also the parent of a child with autism. \"This important legislation will dedicate significantly more funding to help us understand the biology of autism and pave the way towards best practices for diagnosing and treating autism. We urge the House to pass this legislation and bring help and hope to the 1.5 million Americans with autism.\"

For more about the Combating Autism Act of 2006, visit http://www.combatautism.org.

Combating Autism Act of 2006 Highlights:

-- Allocates approximately $900 million in spending on autism over the next five years. This is approximately double what would have been spent with straight-line continuation of existing programs.

-- Authorizes a 50% increase in spending for biomedical research in autism from the $100 million which the NIH currently claims to be spending.

-- Creates a legal requirement for Centers of Excellence in Environmental Health and Autism, to research \"a broad array of environmental factors that may have a possible role in autism spectrum disorders.\" These Centers are authorized with funding of $45 million over the five-year life of the bill.

-- Requires the director of NIH to develop and implement a strategic plan for autism research and a budget to fund this plan, taking into account recommendations of a public/private committee (the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee) which it requires to include at least one-third public members, including a person with autism and a person who is the parent of a child with autism. This new authority and accountability makes the director, in effect, the \"autism czar.\"

-- Provides grant programs for states to develop autism screening, early diagnosis and intervention programs for children -- perhaps the most important thing that could happen, short of a cure.

Details about the Combating Autism Act of 2006 can be found at http://www.cureautismnow.org.

About Cure Autism Now

Cure Autism Now is an organization of parents, clinicians and scientists dedicated to accelerating the pace of scientific research to prevent, treat and cure autism -- for individuals and families today, and for future generations. Founded in 1995 by parents of children with autism, Cure Autism Now has grown from a kitchen-table effort to a leader in autism research and advocacy. Cure Autism Now is a leading private funder of biomedical research in autism, providing more than $35 million for research grants, education, outreach and scientific resources, including the establishment and ongoing support of the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE). More information about Cure Autism Now can be found at http://www.cureautismnow.org.

About Autism

Autism is a developmental brain disorder that now affects as many as one in every 166 children in the United States. Autism is commonly diagnosed by the age of three, and in some cases, as early as one year. Characterized by varying degrees of impairment in communication skills, social interactions, and restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, children with autism can exhibit symptoms that run mild to severe with widely differing symptom profiles. More information about autism can be found below:
http://www.combatautism.org