How would I vote on Reathorization of Combating Autism Act?

I would vote yes for the Reauthorization of Combating Autism Act for several reasons. First, according to the latest statistics from the Centers of Disease Control, one in eighty-eight children develops autism. Boys are five more times likely to develop autism than girls ("Autism and Spectrum", 2012). These statistics are staggering and affect many people in our country; therefore, money needs to be contributed to help finding the cause and any possible cure or treatment. Because the NIH is involved in the Reathorization of Combating Autism Act, maybe medications will be discovered to help with they symptoms of this disorder. Medical management is part of this disorder and medical treatments could be used to help the disorder. If medical advances are made in regards to autism, then possible prevention can occur when the baby is in vitro or in a child's early development.

Nursing deals with autism in many settings especially the school setting. Nurses need to be educated about this disorder in order to educate parents and teachers about the disorder. Nurses need to be educated about autism in order to understand the medications that are admininstered in the school setting.

Next, autism has many effects families who are affected by this disorder. Autism costs a family over $3.2 million to take care of one child with autism. There are several reasons why the cost is high. First, there are expenses related to medical treatments such as doctor visits, medication costs, and behavioral therapies. Next there are non-medical costs such as special camps, education, and child care for children affected by this disorder. Autism affects the autistic children's parents productivity at work because many have to work less hours (Datz, T., 2006). Only one in six autistic children is able to develop into a well adjusted adult. Many autistic adults must live with their parents or in a special group setting ("Autism", 2012).

Autism and spectrum disorders: data and statistics. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html.

Datz, T. (2006, April 25). Autism has high costs to society. Retrieved from http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/2006-releases/press04252006.html

Autism. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.minddisorders.com/A-Br/Autism.html

Combating Autism Reathorization Act

The Combating Autism Reauthorization Act was voted into law by President Barrack Obama on September 30, 2011. The law will enable $693 million to be used in the next three years for continued research into the causes and treatments of autism. This law will allow $22 million to be used by the CDC for the study of autism. This law will also fund $161 million to be used by the National Institutes of Health for autism research. This law will appropriate $48 million to be used by the Health Resources and Services Administration for early detection and treatment programs("Thank you president", 2012).
Before this law was voted into law, the bill number was S. 1094. The bill was created to research and continue to educate the public about Austism Spectrum Disorders. The $22 million will be used through 2014. This law is continuing the 2006 Combating Autism Act in which the government committed to give money to fund research and education on autism for five years.

Mike Enzi (R, WY), ranking Minority Leader of the HELP committee, voted yes on the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act. This bill was a bipartisan effort because the entire senate, regardless of political affiliation voted yes on this bill. Enzi was instrumental in moving the bill out of the HELP committee quickly in order for it to be sent to the Senate for a vote ("Autism speaks", 2011).

Mr. Enzi helped sponsor the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act. A sponsor is a senator or representative who introduces a bill to either the senate or house. The sponsor is the chief support of a bill and tries to get it passed and made into a law ("Sponsor (legislative)",2009). Mike Enzi stated “This important legislation continues the good work of the original Combating Autism Act, which assists individuals living with autism and other developmental disabilities and their families, and ensures that those key programs do not expire. This bill safeguards autism research and makes sure that there will be sustained awareness of autism across federal health agencies. I am glad this bill will continue to provide a voice to the community of people affected by this disorder” ("Autism policy and", 2011) Enzi helped sponsor the bill due to the increased cases of autism in this county which currently affects one out of every hundred and ten children and one in seventy boys.


Thank you president obama: combating autism reauthorization act signed into law. (2011, September 30). Retrieved from http://autismsciencefoundation.wordpress.com/2011/09/30/thank-you-president-obama-combating-autism-reauthorization-act-signed-into-law/

Autism policy and politics. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.autismpolicyblog.com/2011/05/lawmakers-introduce-combating-autism.html)

Autism speaks hails historic senate vote renewing autism act for another three years. (2011, September 27). Retrieved from http://www.autismvotes.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=frKNI3PCImE&b=3930723&ct=11236591


Sponsor (legislative). (2009, October 12). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sponsor_(legislative)

Approved and Denied Items by the HELP committee

When voting occurs in the House of Representatives, there must be at least 218 votes before it can move to the Senate, which is where the HELP committee is located. The bill is discussed at length in the Senate, as well as committee, and a vote takes place in which at least 51 members must pass the bill. It either then goes to the President or back to the House of Representatives. A vote that goes back to the House of Representatives has different amendments than the ones passed by the House and must be re-voted and discussed before going to the President for a vote. A bill that is not passed does not move onto a different chamber of congress.

Once a bill goes to the President of the United States, he or she can pass it, and it then becomes a law. The President can also veto it which makes it not become law. When a bill is vetoed it can go back to Congress for revisions in order to make it into a law. If two-thirds of both the House and Senate vote yes to a bill that was vetoed by the President, it then becomes law ("How a bill", 2012).

How a bill is passed in congress. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5386720_bill-passed-congress.html

HELP Committee Members

CHAIR: Tom Harkin, (D-IA)
RANKING MINORITY LEADER: Michael B. Enzi, (R-WY)



Role of Chairman of Committee: The Chairman of the HELP committee is a member of the majority political party of the senate which is currently the Democratic Party. The Chairman oversees the activities of the committee. The Chairman of the Committee is typically selected because he or she has been on the committee for the longest period of time ("US senate committee", 2012).

Role of Ranking Minority Leader: The Ranking Minority Leader of the HELP Committee is a member of the minority political party in the Senate which is currently the Republican Party. The Ranking Minority Leader is typically selected because he or she has been on the committee for the longest period of time ("US senate committee", 2012).

Democrats by Rank

Tom Harkin (IA)
Barbara A. Mikulski (MD)
Jeff Bingaman (NM)
Patty Murray (WA)
Bernard Sanders (I) (VT)
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (PA)
Kay R. Hagan (NC)
Jeff Merkley (OR)
Al Franken (MN)
Michael F. Bennet (CO)
Sheldon Whitehouse (RI)
Richard Blumenthal (CT)

Republicans by Rank

Michael B. Enzi (WY)
Lamar Alexander (TN)
Richard Burr (NC)
Johnny Isakson (GA)
Rand Paul (KY)
Orrin G. Hatch (UT)
John McCain (AZ)
Pat Roberts (KS)
Lisa Murkowski (AK)
Mark Kirk (IL)

There are several subcommittess which include:
Subcommittee on Children and Families
Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety
Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging
(U.S. Senate, n.d.).


There are currently no vaccancies on this committee.

Us senate committee on energy and natural resournces. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/help

U. S. Senate. (2012). About the help committee. Retrieved April 14, 2012, from http://www.help.senate.gov/about/

What is HELP?

HELP is the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. One purpose of this committee is to oversee the majority of the entities of the Department of Health and Human Services. HELP monitors changes in the health care industry and insurance issues related to these changes. Another role of this committee is to monitor education in this country by overseeing Head Start, No Child Left Behind Act, Higher Education, the Arts and Humanities, Student Financial Assistance, Individuals with Disabilities Act, Job and Vocational Training, and the Workforce Investment Act. Another purpose of this committee is overseeing federal and employment laws which includes laws that deal with hours of work and wages, mining, safety and health in the workplace environment, helping with union and company issues, and helping to fight any type of work environment discrimination. The last area of responsibility include "... primary jurisdiction over private retirement plans and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation through the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and over railroad retirement" ("US senate committee, 2012).

Us senate committee on health, education, labor, and pensions. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.help.senate.gov/issues/issue/?id=fb340af2-176c-426b-9b66-9d3bc503543f