[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 843 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 843

    To amend the Public Health Service Act to combat autism through 
            research, screening, intervention and education.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 19, 2005

Mr. Santorum (for himself and Mr. Dodd) introduced the following bill; 
     which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To amend the Public Health Service Act to combat autism through 
            research, screening, intervention and education.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Combating Autism Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE AUTISM-RELATED RESEARCH AND FUNDING.

    Title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 281 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:

                  ``PART J--AUTISM-RELATED ACTIVITIES

``SEC. 499A. AUTHORITY OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF 
              HEALTH RELATING TO AUTISM.

    ``(a) Identifying Total Expenditures on Autism Spectrum 
Disorders.--The Director of NIH, in coordination with the National 
Institute of Mental Health and other institutes of the National 
Institutes of Health, shall identify the total amount of expenditures, 
both intramural and extramural, by the National Institutes of Health 
for autism spectrum disorders for fiscal year 2005.
    ``(b) Budget for Autism Research and Coordination of Activities and 
Programs.--The Director of NIH, based on the strategic plan developed 
under subsection (c), shall--
            ``(1) develop and oversee the implementation of a 
        scientifically justified budget for research on autism spectrum 
        disorders at the National Institutes of Health;
            ``(2) coordinate all research activities and programs on 
        autism spectrum disorders at the institutes, centers, and 
        divisions of the National Institutes of Health; and
            ``(3) evaluate all such activities and programs.
    ``(c) Strategic Plan for Autism Research.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director of NIH shall develop and 
        oversee the implementation of a comprehensive, long-range plan 
        for the conduct and support of research on autism spectrum 
        disorders by the institutes, centers, and divisions of the 
        National Institutes of Health.
            ``(2) Requirements.--The plan developed under paragraph (1) 
        shall--
                    ``(A) be updated on an annual basis;
                    ``(B) be based on the research recommendations 
                contained in the Autism Research Roadmap and Matrix of 
                the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee;
                    ``(C) determine and establish priorities among 
                critical scientific questions related to autism 
                spectrum disorders;
                    ``(D) based on the priorities established under 
                subparagraph (C), specify the short and long-range 
                objectives to be achieved, and estimate the resources 
                needed to achieve these objectives;
                    ``(E) evaluate the sufficiency of existing research 
                programs on autism spectrum disorders to meet the 
                objectives specified under subparagraph (D), and 
                establish objectives, timelines, and criteria for 
                evaluating future research programs; and
                    ``(F) make recommendations for changes to existing 
                research programs on autism spectrum disorders.
    ``(d) Budgetary Authority.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director of NIH shall--
                    ``(A) in accordance with the strategic plan 
                developed under subsection (c), annually prepare and 
                submit to Congress a scientifically justified budget 
                estimate for research on autism spectrum disorders to 
                be conducted within the agencies of the National 
                Institutes of Health, which shall include the amount of 
                funds that will be required for--
                            ``(i) the continued funding of ongoing 
                        discretionary program initiatives at the 
                        institutes, centers, and divisions of the 
                        National Institutes of Health; and
                            ``(ii) the funding of new and complementary 
                        program initiatives.
                    ``(B) receive all research funds for autism 
                spectrum disorders described in subparagraph (A), and 
                allocate those funds to the institutes, centers, and 
                divisions of the National Institutes of Health.
            ``(2) Effective date.--Paragraph (1)(B) shall become 
        effective in the fiscal year following the submission of the 
        autism budget described in paragraph (1)(A).
    ``(e) Evaluation and Report.--
            ``(1) Evaluation.--The Director of NIH shall evaluate the 
        effect of this section on the planning and coordination of 
        research programs on autism spectrum disorders at the 
        institutes, centers, and divisions of the National Institutes 
        of Health, and the extent to which funding mandated under this 
        section has followed the recommendation of the strategic plan 
        developed under subsection (c).
            ``(2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Director of NIH shall prepare 
        and submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the 
        Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, 
        and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and 
        the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, a report based 
        on the evaluation described in paragraph (1).

``SEC. 499B. EXPANSION, INTENSIFICATION, AND COORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES 
              OF NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH WITH RESPECT TO RESEARCH 
              ON AUTISM.

    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Expansion of activities.--The Director of NIH shall 
        expand, intensify, and coordinate the activities of the 
        National Institutes of Health with respect to research on 
        autism.
            ``(2) Administration of program; coordination among 
        agencies.--The Director of NIH shall carry out this section 
        acting through the Director of the National Institute of Mental 
        Health and in collaboration with the National Institute of 
        Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of 
        Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the National Institute of 
        Environmental Health Sciences, the National Institute on 
        Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, and any other 
        agencies that the Director determines appropriate.
    ``(b) Centers of Excellence.--
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out subsection (a)(1), the 
        Director of NIH shall award grants and contracts to public or 
        nonprofit private entities to pay all or part of the cost of 
        planning, establishing, improving, and providing basic 
        operating support for centers of excellence regarding research 
        on autism.
            ``(2) Research.--Each center of excellence that receives 
        funding under paragraph (1) shall conduct basic and clinical 
        research into autism. Such research--
                    ``(A) shall be conducted in the fields of 
                developmental neurobiology, genetics, and 
                psychopharmacology, and, beginning on July 1, 2008, 
                immunology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, and 
                toxicology; and
                    ``(B) should include--
                            ``(i) investigations into the cause, 
                        diagnosis, early detection, prevention, 
                        control, treatment, and cure of autism; and
                            ``(ii) research on high-risk infant 
                        siblings.
            ``(3) Services for patients.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A center of excellence that 
                receives funding under paragraph (1) may expend amounts 
                provided under a grant or contract under such paragraph 
                to carry out a program to make individuals aware of 
                opportunities to participate as subjects in research 
                conducted by the centers.
                    ``(B) Referrals and costs.--A program carried out 
                under subparagraph (A) may, in accordance with such 
                criteria as the Director of NIH may establish, provide 
                to the subjects described in such subparagraph, 
                referrals for health and other services, and such 
                patient care costs as are required for research.
                    ``(C) Availability and access.--The extent to which 
                a center of excellence that receives funding under 
                paragraph (1) can demonstrate availability and access 
                to clinical services shall be considered by the 
                Director of NIH in decisions about awarding grants or 
                contracts to applicants that meet the scientific 
                criteria for funding under this section.
            ``(4) Coordination of centers of excellence.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Director of NIH shall, as 
                appropriate, provide for the coordination of 
                information among centers of excellence that receive 
                funding under paragraph (1) and centers of excellence 
                that receive funding under section 463C, and ensure 
                regular communication between such centers.
                    ``(B) Periodic reports.--The Director of NIH may 
                require the periodic preparation of reports on the 
                activities of the centers described in subparagraph (A) 
                and the submission of such reports to the Director.
                    ``(C) Collection and storage of data.--The Director 
                of NIH shall establish and fund mechanisms and entities 
                for collecting, storing, and coordinating data 
                collected by the centers referred to in subparagraph 
                (A) and data generated from public and private research 
                partnerships.
            ``(5) Organization.--Each center of excellence that 
        receives funding 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 of NIH.
            ``(6) Number and duration.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Director shall provide for 
                the establishment of not less than 10 centers under 
                paragraph (1).
                    ``(B) Duration.--A grant or contract awarded under 
                paragraph (1) shall not exceed a period of 5 years. 
                Such period may be extended for 1 or more additional 
                periods not exceeding 5 years if the operations of the 
                center of excellence involved have been reviewed by an 
                appropriate technical and scientific peer review group 
                established by the Director of NIH and the group has 
                recommended to the Director that such period should be 
                extended.
                    ``(C) Facilitation of research.--
                            ``(i) Establishment of program.--The 
                        Director of NIH shall establish a program under 
                        which samples of tissues and genetic and other 
                        biological materials that are of use in 
                        research on autism are donated, collected, 
                        preserved, and made available for such 
                        research.
                            ``(ii) Accepted scientific standards.--The 
                        program established under clause (i) shall be 
                        carried out in accordance with accepted 
                        scientific and medical standards for the 
                        donation, collection, and preservation of such 
                        samples, and shall be conducted so that the 
                        tissues and other materials saved, as well as 
                        any database compiled from such tissues and 
                        materials, are available to researchers at a 
                        reasonable cost.
                    ``(D) Public input.--In carrying out this section, 
                the Director of NIH shall provide for a means through 
                which the public can obtain information on the existing 
                and planned programs and activities of the National 
                Institutes of Health with respect to autism and through 
                which the Director can receive comments from the public 
                regarding such programs and activities.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, $30,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2007 through 2011. Amounts appropriated under this subsection 
shall be in addition to any other amounts appropriated for such 
purpose.

``SEC. 499C. COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS OF EXCELLENCE IN AUTISM.

    ``(a) In General.--The Director of NIH, acting through the Director 
of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the 
Director of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Disorders, 
shall award grants and contracts to public or nonprofit private 
entities to pay all or part of the cost of planning, establishing, 
improving, and providing basic operating support for the Collaborative 
Programs of Excellence in Autism.
    ``(b) Research.--Each program established under subsection (a) 
shall conduct basic and clinical research into autism. Such program--
            ``(1) shall conduct research in the fields of developmental 
        neurobiology, genetics, and psychopharmacology, and, beginning 
        July 1, 2008, in the fields of immunology, endocrinology, 
        gastroenterology, and toxicology; and
            ``(2) should conduct--
                    ``(A) investigations into the cause, diagnosis, 
                early detection, prevention, control, treatment, and 
                cure of autism; and
                    ``(B) research on high-risk infant siblings.
    ``(c) Coordination of Programs.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director of NIH shall, as 
        appropriate, provide for the coordination of information among 
        programs established under subsection (a), and centers of 
        excellence that receive funding under section 463C and 499B, 
        and ensure regular communication between such centers.
            ``(2) Periodic reports.--The Director of NIH may require 
        the periodic preparation of reports on the activities of the 
        programs described in paragraph (1) and the submission of such 
        reports to the Director.
            ``(3) Collection and storage of data.--The Director of NIH 
        shall establish and fund mechanisms and entities for 
        collecting, storing, and coordinating data collected by the 
        programs referred to in paragraph (1) and data generated from 
        public and private research partnerships.
    ``(d) Organization.--Each program that receives funding under 
subsection (a) 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 of NIH.
    ``(e) Number and Duration.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director shall provide for the 
        establishment of not less than 10 programs under paragraph (1).
            ``(2) Duration.--A grant or contract awarded under 
        subsection (a) shall not exceed a period of 5 years. Such 
        period may be extended for 1 or more additional periods not 
        exceeding 5 years if the operations of the program involved 
        have been reviewed by an appropriate technical and scientific 
        peer review group established by the Director of NIH and the 
        group has recommended to the Director that such period should 
        be extended.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, $14,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2007 through 2011. Amounts appropriated under this subsection 
shall be in addition to any other amounts appropriated for such 
purpose.''.

SEC. 3. DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SURVEILLANCE AND RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    Title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end thereof the following:

                 ``PART R--PROGRAMS RELATING TO AUTISM

``SEC. 399AA. DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SURVEILLANCE AND RESEARCH 
              PROGRAM.

    ``(a) National Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disabilities 
Surveillance Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
        Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may 
        award grants and cooperative agreements to eligible entities 
        for the collection, analysis, and reporting of epidemiological 
        data on autism and pervasive developmental disabilities. In 
        making such awards, the Secretary may provide direct technical 
        assistance in lieu of cash.
            ``(2) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant or 
        cooperative agreement under paragraph (1), an entity shall be a 
        public or nonprofit private entity (including a health 
        department of a State or political subdivisions of a State, a 
        university, or any other educational institution), and submit 
        to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, 
        and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
    ``(b) Centers of Excellence in Autism and Pervasive Developmental 
Disabilities Epidemiology.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
        Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
        shall establish not less than 6 regional centers of excellence 
        in autism and pervasive developmental disabilities epidemiology 
        for the purpose of collecting and analyzing information on the 
        number, incidence, incidence trend over time, correlates, and 
        causes of autism and related developmental disabilities.
            ``(2) Recipients of awards.--Each center of excellence 
        under paragraph (1) shall be established and operated through 
        the awarding of grants or cooperative agreements to public or 
        nonprofit private entities that conduct research, including 
        health departments of States and political subdivisions of 
        States, and universities and other educational entities.
            ``(3) Requirements.--To be eligible to receive a grant or 
        cooperative agreement under paragraph (2), an entity shall 
        submit to the Secretary an application containing such 
        agreements and information as the Secretary may require, 
        including an agreement that the center to be established shall 
        operate in accordance with the following:
                    ``(A) The center will collect, analyze, and report 
                autism and pervasive developmental disabilities data 
                according to guidelines prescribed by the Director of 
                the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, after 
                consultation with relevant State and local public 
                health officials, private sector developmental 
                disability researchers, and advocates for those with 
                developmental disabilities.
                    ``(B) The center will assist with the development 
                and coordination of State autism and pervasive 
                developmental disabilities surveillance efforts within 
                a region.
                    ``(C) The center will identify eligible cases and 
                controls through its surveillance systems and conduct 
                research into factors which may cause or increase the 
                risk of autism and related developmental disabilities.
                    ``(D) The center will develop or extend an area of 
                special research expertise (including genetics, 
                environmental exposure to contaminants, immunology, and 
                other relevant research specialty areas).
    ``(c) Clearinghouse.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall carry out the 
following:
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a 
        clearinghouse within the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention for the collection and storage of data generated 
        from the monitoring programs established under this part and 
        part J of title IV. Through the clearinghouse, such Centers 
        shall serve as the coordinating agency for autism and pervasive 
        developmental disabilities surveillance activities. The 
        functions of such clearinghouse shall include facilitating the 
        coordination of research and policy development relating to the 
        epidemiology of autism and other pervasive developmental 
        disabilities.
            ``(2) Federal response.--The Secretary shall coordinate the 
        Federal response to requests for assistance from State health 
        department officials regarding potential or alleged autism or 
        developmental disability clusters.
            ``(3) Facilitation of research.--The Secretary shall 
        provide for the establishment of a program under which samples 
        of tissues and genetic and other biological materials that are 
        of use in research on autism are donated, collected, preserved, 
        and made available for such research. Such program shall be 
        carried out in accordance with accepted scientific and medical 
        standards for the donation, collection, and preservation of 
        such samples, and shall be conducted so that the tissues and 
        other materials saved, as well as any database compiled from 
        such tissues and materials, are available to researchers at a 
        reasonable cost.
            ``(4) Coordination.--The Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention shall coordinate research and surveillance 
        activities of such Centers with the National Institutes of 
        Health, other appropriate Federal agencies, and interested 
        nonprofit private entities, in a manner consistent with the 
        research recommendations contained in the Autism Research 
        Roadmap and Matrix of the Interagency Autism Coordinating 
        Committee, which shall be updated as determined appropriate by 
        the Secretary.
    ``(d) State.--In this part, the term `State' means each of the 
several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, the Virgin Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific 
Islands.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, $12,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2007 through 2011.

``SEC. 399BB. INFORMATION AND EDUCATION RELATING TO AUTISM.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish and implement a 
program to provide information and education on autism and its risk 
factors to health professionals and the general public, including 
information and education on advances in the diagnosis and treatment of 
autism and training and continuing education through programs for 
scientists, physicians, and other health professionals who provide care 
for patients with autism. The program shall place special emphasis on 
early identification of autism and those at risk for autism and prompt 
referral for appropriate services.
    ``(b) Stipends.--The Secretary may use amounts made available under 
this section to provide stipends for health professionals who are 
enrolled in training programs under this section.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2007 through 2011.

``SEC. 399CC. INTERAGENCY AUTISM COORDINATING COMMITTEE.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a committee to 
be known as the `Autism Coordinating Committee' (in this section 
referred to as the `Committee') to coordinate all efforts within the 
Department of Health and Human Services concerning autism, including 
activities carried out through the National Institutes of Health and 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the amendments 
made by the National Autism Research Act.
    ``(b) Membership.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Committee shall be composed of--
                    ``(A) the Director of the Centers for Disease 
                Control and Prevention;
                    ``(B) the Directors of such national research 
                institutes of the National Institutes of Health as the 
                Secretary determines appropriate;
                    ``(C) the heads of such other agencies as the 
                Secretary determines appropriate; and
                    ``(D) the additional members appointed under 
                paragraph (2) (if any).
            ``(2) Additional members.--If determined appropriate by the 
        Secretary, the Secretary may appoint to the Committee--
                    ``(A) individuals with autism or other pervasive 
                developmental disorders;
                    ``(B) parents or legal guardians of individuals 
                with autism or other pervasive developmental disorders;
                    ``(C) representatives of leading autism research 
                and service organizations; and
                    ``(D) representatives of other governmental 
                agencies that serve children with autism such as the 
                Department of Education.
    ``(c) Administrative Support; Terms of Services; Other 
Provisions.--The following shall apply with respect to the Committee:
            ``(1) The Committee shall receive necessary and appropriate 
        administrative support from the Secretary.
            ``(2) Members of the Committee appointed under subsection 
        (b)(2)(A) shall serve for a term of 3 years, and may serve for 
        an unlimited number of terms if reappointed.
            ``(3) The Committee shall meet not less than 2 times each 
        year.

``SEC. 399DD. SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT OF AUTISM; MEDICAL 
              CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM.

    ``(a) Statewide Autism Screening, Diagnosis, and Intervention 
Programs and Systems.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
        Administrator of the Health Resources and Services 
        Administration, shall award grants or cooperative agreements to 
        eligible entities to develop statewide autism screening, 
        diagnosis, and intervention programs and systems for the 
        purposes described in paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Purposes.--The purposes described in this paragraph 
        are the following:
                    ``(A) To develop and monitor the efficacy of 
                statewide autism screening, diagnosis, and intervention 
                programs and systems, ensuring that all children are 
                screened for autism before their second birthday, and 
                that children at risk for autism receive appropriate 
                services as early as possible. Intervention includes 
                referral to schools and agencies, including community, 
                consumer, and parent-based agencies, and organizations 
                and other programs mandated by part C of the 
                Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which 
                offer programs specifically designed to meet the unique 
                needs of children with autism.
                    ``(B) To collect data on statewide autism 
                screening, diagnosis, and intervention programs and 
                systems that can be used for applied research, program 
                evaluation, and policy development.
                    ``(C) To provide comprehensive medical care for 
                individuals with autism through evidence-based 
                practices, with specific attention to medical 
                conditions that may be associated with autism, and to 
                disseminate information on the medical care of 
                individuals with autism to health professionals and the 
                general public. In carrying out the program under this 
                paragraph, a grant shall be awarded to a national 
                organization that will establish and support regional 
                centers of clinical excellence to provide medical care 
                to individuals with autism and promote research aimed 
                at improving the treatment of such individuals, and 
                that will build a shared national medical database to 
                record the results of treatments and studies at the 
                regional centers.
            ``(3) Set aside of funds.--From amounts appropriated under 
        subsection (e), the Secretary shall set-aside not less than 
        $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011 to carry 
        out activities described in paragraph (2)(C).
    ``(b) Technical Assistance, Data Management, and Applied 
Research.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention, shall award grants or cooperative 
agreements to provide technical assistance to State agencies to conduct 
applied research related to autism screening, diagnosis, and 
intervention programs and systems. In carrying out this section the 
Secretary shall develop standardized procedures for data management and 
program effectiveness and costs, including procedures--
            ``(1) to ensure quality monitoring of autism screening, 
        diagnosis, and intervention programs and systems;
            ``(2) to provide technical assistance on data collection 
        and management;
            ``(3) to study the costs and effectiveness of autism 
        screening, diagnosis, and intervention programs and systems 
        conducted by State-based programs in order to address issues of 
        importance to State and national policymakers;
            ``(4) to identify the causes and risk factors for autism;
            ``(5) to study the effectiveness of autism screening, 
        diagnosis, and intervention programs and systems by assessing 
        the intellectual and social development, cognitive status, and 
        language skills of children with autism at school age; and
            ``(6) to promote the sharing of data regarding autism with 
        State-based birth defects and developmental disabilities 
        monitoring programs and environmental discharge monitoring 
        programs of the Environmental Protection Agency for the purpose 
        of identifying previously unknown causes of and risk factors 
        for autism.
    ``(c) Coordination and Collaboration.--
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out programs under this 
        section, the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services 
        Administration, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control 
        and Prevention, and the Director of the National Institutes of 
        Health shall collaborate and consult with--
                    ``(A) other Federal, State and local agencies, 
                including those responsible for early intervention 
                services pursuant to title XIX of the Social Security 
                Act (particularly the Medicaid Early and Periodic 
                Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Program), title XXI 
                of the Social Security Act (State Children's Health 
                Insurance Program), title V of the Social Security Act 
                (Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Program), and 
                part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
                Act;
                    ``(B) consumer groups of, and that serve, 
                individuals with autism and their families;
                    ``(C) appropriate national medical and other health 
                and education specialty organizations;
                    ``(D) individuals with autism and their families;
                    ``(E) other qualified personnel who possess the 
                specialized knowledge, skills, and attributes needed to 
                serve autistic children and their families; and
                    ``(F) related commercial industries.
            ``(2) Policy development.--The Administrator of the Health 
        Resources and Services Administration, the Director of the 
        Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Director of 
        the National Institutes of Health shall coordinate and 
        collaborate on recommendations for policy development at the 
        Federal and State levels and with the private sector, including 
        consumer, medical, and other health and education professional-
        based organizations, with respect to autism screening, 
        diagnosis, and intervention programs and systems.
            ``(3) State early detection, diagnosis, and intervention 
        programs and systems.--The Administrator of the Health 
        Resources and Services Administration and the Director of the 
        Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall coordinate and 
        collaborate in assisting States to establish autism screening, 
        diagnosis, and intervention programs and systems under 
        subsection (a) and to develop a data collection system under 
        subsection (b).
    ``(d) Physician Reimbursement for Development Screening.--To make 
developmental screening more readily available, the Secretary, acting 
through the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services, shall assign a relative value unit to the diagnostic code for 
developmental screening.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated--
            ``(1) to carry out subsection (a), $75,000,000 for each of 
        fiscal years 2007 through 2011; and
            ``(2) to carry out subsection (b), $25,000,000 for each of 
        fiscal years 2007 through 2011.

``SEC. 399EE. ANNUAL REPORT ON AUTISM.

    ``(a) In General.--Not later than January 1, 2006, and each January 
1 thereafter, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress, a report concerning the implementation of this 
part and part J of title IV.
    ``(b) Contents.--The report, utilizing uniform reporting methods 
and procedures, shall--
            ``(1) provide the dollar amount that each institute of the 
        National Institutes of Health expended on autism research in 
        the year for which the report was prepared; and
            ``(2) detail the progress and success of the National 
        Institutes of Health in implementing and funding the 
        recommendations contained in the Autism Research Roadmap and 
        Matrix of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee.''.

SEC. 4. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH PROGRAMS.

    Subpart 12 of part C of title IV of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 285l et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 463C. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) Centers of Excellence.--The Director of NIH, acting through 
the Director of the Institute, shall awards grants and contracts to 
public or nonprofit private entities to pay all or part of the cost of 
planning, establishing, improving, and providing basic operating 
support for centers of excellence regarding environmental health and 
autism.
    ``(b) Research.--Each center of excellence under subsection (a) 
shall conduct basic and clinical research into possible environmental 
causes of and risk factors for autism and the mechanisms by which they 
may lead to autism, and the developmental effects of environmental 
agents that may be associated with autism.
    ``(c) Coordination; Reports.--The Director of NIH shall, as 
appropriate, provide for the coordination of information among centers 
of excellence established under subsection (a) and section 499B and 
ensure regular communication between such centers. The Director may 
require the periodic preparation of reports on the activities of the 
centers and the submission of such reports to the Director. The 
Director shall establish and fund mechanisms and entities for 
collecting, storing, and coordinating data collected by the centers 
established under this section and data generated from public and 
private research partnerships.
    ``(d) Organization.--Each center of excellence under subsection (a) 
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 of NIH.
    ``(e) Number of Centers; Duration.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director shall provide for the 
        establishment of not less than 3 centers under subsection (a).
                    ``(A) Duration.--A grant or contract awarded under 
                subsection (a) shall not exceed a period of 5 years. 
                Such period may be extended for 1 or more additional 
                periods not exceeding 5 years if the operations of the 
                center of excellence involved have been reviewed by an 
                appropriate technical and scientific peer review group 
                established by the Director of NIH and the group has 
                recommended to the Director that such period should be 
                extended.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, $6,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2007 through 2011.''.
                                 <all>