II 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1128 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 26, 2011 Mr. Menendez introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To establish a National Autism Spectrum Disorders Initiative and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Autism Spectrum Disorders Initiative Act of 2011.

2.

Establishment of the national autism spectrum disorders initiative

Part R of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i et seq.) is amended— (1)by redesignating section 399EE as section 399FF; and (2)by inserting after section 399DD the following:

399EE.

Establishment of the national autism spectrum disorders initiative

(a)

In general

There is established in the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services the National Autism Spectrum Disorders Initiative (referred to in this Act as the Initiative). The principal goal of the Initiative is to improve the lives of individuals with autism spectrum disorders through research focused on prevention, treatment, services, and cures. (b)

Duties of the Secretary under the initiative

The Secretary or the Secretary’s designee— (1)shall act as the primary Federal official with responsibility for overseeing all research on autism spectrum disorders conducted or supported by the National Institutes of Health; (2)shall review the strategic plan described in section 399CC(b)(5), approve or reject such plan, and be responsible for the implementation of any such plan the Secretary approves; (3)shall receive directly from the President and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget all funds available for autism spectrum disorder activities of the National Institutes of Health; (4)from the amounts received under paragraph (3) for the fiscal year, shall allocate, in consultation with the Director of the National Institutes of Health, to the agencies of the National Institutes of Health in accordance with the strategic plan all amounts available for such year for carrying out autism spectrum disorder activities; (5)to the extent practicable, shall allocate amounts under paragraph (4) not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee receives the amounts described under paragraph (3); (6)may reallocate up to 3 percent of the total amount allocated under paragraph (4) as needs change and opportunities arise; (7)shall plan and evaluate research and other activities related to autism spectrum disorders conducted or supported by the agencies of the National Institutes of Health, evaluating the activities of each such agency and providing for the periodic reevaluation of such activities; (8)shall maintain communications with all relevant departments of the Federal Government to ensure the timely transmission of information concerning autism spectrum disorders; and (9)shall carry out this section in consultation with the heads of the agencies of the National Institutes of Health, with the advisory councils of such agencies, and with the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee.

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3.

Activities of the National Institutes of Health with respect to autism spectrum disorders

Section 409C of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284g) is amended— (1)in subsection (a)(1), by striking basic and clinical research and inserting basic, clinical, and translational research; (2)in subsection (b)(2)— (A)by striking basic and clinical research and inserting basic, clinical, and translational research; and (B)by inserting , building upon the recommendations set forth in the most recent strategic plan for autism spectrum disorders of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee established under section 399CC before the period at the end of the second sentence; (3)in subsection (c), by inserting , biomaterials for induced pluripotent stem cells, biosamples relevant to environmental exposures, after tissues; and (4)by adding at the end the following: (e)

Definition

In this section, the term translational research means research that emphasizes the development and delivery of effective new therapies to patients. .

4.

Clarifying amendments with respect to autism intervention

Section 399BB(f) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i–1(f)) is amended— (1)by inserting to research networks after contracts; and (2)by striking interventions for individuals and inserting interventions to improve the physical and behavioral health and well-being of individuals.