Department of Defense Appropriations Bill
Many military families are impacted by autism. Based on current prevalence rates, as many as 12,000 children in the military families (active duty, reserve and guard) may have autism. These families are substantially affected by the financial and emotional costs of raising a child with autism.Military life is particularly difficult for children with autism and their families. Given the frequent duty station changes and social turmoil of military service, military children with an autism spectrum disorder often face additional challenges with which their civilian counterparts do not have to contend.
A specific feature of autism is extreme difficulty with life, routine, or environmental changes of any kind. These children need a set routine, stability, and continuity of services and relationships. Military life by its nature provides few of these needs. This situation is likely to weaken the morale of the parent serving the military as well as the caretaker at home.
Bill Summary Description:In the Fiscal 2007 Defense Appropriations bill, Congress included $7.5 million for autism research. This year, Autism Speaks, along with several members of Congress supported an appropriation of $15 million to be included in the Department of Defense Appropriations bill for autism research.
Currently, the Defense Department's autism research program is funded in the U.S. Army Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation Medical Advanced Technology account. It is administered as a Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), similar to current programs for breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers. Research funded by CDMRP is peer-reviewed, and benefits from the direct input of consumer advocates, and is targeted to the most innovative, promising research in the field.
Current Status:
On November 13th, the President signed into law the 2008 Defense Appropriations Bill. This bill includes $6.4 million for autism research, marking the second year that the Congress has targeted defense dollars for autism. Autism continues to be part of a select group of diseases on which the Congress has directed the Army to conduct research - joining the list of breast, prostate and ovarian cancers. This funding comes as recognition, by Congress and the President, of the impact of autism on the families of many servicemen and women.
Autism research needs every dollar it can get and Autism Speaks is thrilled that Congress sees fit to add Department of Defense dollars to the research funding provided by the National Institutes of Health."