EPIAA: Autism Services Bill
While we do not know what causes autism, we do know that with early intervention and concentrated treatment, the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder can be mitigated, enabling individuals with autism and their families to live less isolated lives. The Expanding the Promise for Individuals with Autism Act (EPIAA) will provide additional treatment and support resources, increasing access to effective therapies and essential support services for people with autism.
Ask your Representative to cosponsor the "Expanding the Promise for Individuals with Autism Act of 2007" (H.R. 1881)
Ask your Senators to cosponsor the "Expanding the Promise for Individuals with Autism Act of 2007" (S. 937)
Bill Summary Description
- The EPIAA will authorize approximately $350 million in new federal money – over and above all existing federal spending on autism – for important initiatives related to treatments, interventions, and services for both children and adults with autism.
- More specifically, the EPIAA authorizes -
- The creation of a task force (with not less than 1/3 autism community membership) to report to Congress and the Executive Branch on the state of evidence-based biomedical and behavioral treatments and services for both children and adults with autism, including identifying gaps in applied research on such treatments, interventions and services.
- Demonstration grants for the coverage of treatments, interventions and services ($20 million annually).
- Planning and demonstration grants for services for adults with autism ($20 million annually).
- Grants for the expansion of access to immediate post-diagnosis care ($10 million in Fiscal Year 2009, growing to $20 million by Fiscal Year 2012).
- National training grants for the University Centers of Excellence for Developmental Disabilities for training, technical assistance and additional services for individuals with autism and their families ($13.4 million annually).
- A Government Accountability Office (GAO) study on service provision and financing.
- Grants to protection and advocacy systems to better meet the needs of families facing autism and other developmental disabilities, including legal representation ($6 million annually).
- The creation of a task force (with not less than 1/3 autism community membership) to report to Congress and the Executive Branch on the state of evidence-based biomedical and behavioral treatments and services for both children and adults with autism, including identifying gaps in applied research on such treatments, interventions and services.
Read the full text of the legislation here:
House Legislation: H.R. 1881
Senate Legislation: S. 937
Current Status
Currently, the EPIAA House bill has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by Congressman John Dingell (MI-15). The Senate version of the bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, chaired by Senator Edward Kennedy (MA).
Cosponsors
House Legislation - HR. 1881 was introduced by Congressman Michael Doyle (PA-14) on April 17, 2007. Currently, the bill has 78 cosponsors.
EPIAA - House Cosponsors
Rep. Thomas Allen (ME-1)
Rep. Jason Altmire (PA-4)
Rep. Tammy Baldwin (WI-2)
Rep. John Barrow (GA-12)
Rep. Shelley Berkley (NV-1)
Rep. Howard Berman (CA-28)
Rep. Mary Bono (CA-45)
Rep. Leonard Boswell (IA-3)
Rep. Rick Boucher (VA-9)
Rep. Russ Carnahan (MO-3)
Rep. Julia Carson (IN-7)
Rep. Christopher Carney (PA-10)
Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-11)
Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (MO-1)
Rep. Joseph Crowley (NY-7)
Rep. Danny K. Davis (IL-7)
Rep. Tom Davis (VA-11)
Rep. Peter A. DeFazio (OR-4)
Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-1)
Rep. Chet Edwards (TX-7)
Rep. Keith Ellison (MN-5)
Rep. Eliot Engel (NY-17)
Rep. Sam Farr (CA-17)
Rep. Bob Filner (CA-51)
Rep. Luis G. Fortuno (PR)
Rep. Barney Frank (MA-4)
Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY-20)
Rep. Bart Gordan (TN-6)
Rep. Gene Green (TX-9)
Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (AZ-7)
Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15)
Rep. Tim Holden (PA-17)
Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12)
Rep. Michael M. Honda (CA-15)
Rep. Steve Israel (NY-2)
Rep. Bobby Jindal (LA-1)
Rep. Henry "Hank" Johnson Jr. (GA-4)
Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-2)
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-16)
Rep. Nita Lowey (NY-18)
Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-14)
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (MI-11)
Rep. James P. McGovern (MA-3)
Rep. John McHugh (NY-23)
Rep. Jerry McNerney (CA-11)
Rep. Michael McNulty (NY-21)
Rep. Brad Miller (NC-13)
Rep. George Miller (CA-7)
Rep. James P. Moran (VA-9)
Rep. Patrick J. Murphy (PA-8)
Rep. Christopher S. Murphy (CT-5)
Rep. Tim Murphy (PA-18)
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (NY-8)
Rep. James L. Oberstar (MN-8)
Rep. Bill Pascrell (NJ-8)
Rep. Collin C. Peterson (MN-7)
Rep. Charles "Chip" Pickering (MS-3)
Rep. Todd Russell Platts (PA-19)
Rep. Nick J. Rahall (WV-3)
Rep. Silvestre Reyes (TX-16)
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18)
Rep. Steven R. Rothman (NJ-9)
Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky (IL-9)
Rep. Adam B. Schiff (CA-29)
Rep. Jose Serrano (NY-16)
Rep. Pete Sessions (TX-32)
Rep. Joe Sestak (PA-7)
Rep. Christopher Shays (CT-4)
Rep. Christopher Smith (NJ-4)
Rep. Vic Snyder (AR-2)
Rep. Mark E. Souder (IN-3)
Rep. Lee Terry (NE-2)
Rep. John Tierney (MA-6)
Rep. Michael Turner (OH-3)
Rep. Timothy Walz (MN-1)
Rep. Zach Wamp (TN-3)
Rep. Lynn C. Woolsey (CA-6)
Rep. John A. Yarmuth (KY-3)
Senate Legislation – S. 937 was introduced by Senator Hillary Clinton (NY) on March 20, 2007. Currently, the bill has 10 cosponsors.EPIAA - Senate Cosponsors
Sen. Wayne Allard (CO)
Sen. Barbara Boxer (CA)
Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH)
Sen. Norm Coleman (MN)
Sen. Pete V. Domenici (NM)
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (NJ)
Sen. Robert Mendez (NJ)
Sen. Barak Obama (IL)
Sen. Bernard Sanders (VT)
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (RI)