InsideGov
Congress · Laws

Autism CARES Act of 2024

Public Law 118-180 · H.R. 7213 · 118th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Joe Biden (D) on Dec 23, 2024 · Health

Sponsor: Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ-4)

Cosponsors (61): Rep. Henry Cuellar,

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 374 yea, 15 nay374–15
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

Report a correction

Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

This act reauthorizes several programs that support autism education, research, and resources.

Specifically, the act reauthorizes through FY2029 (1) the Developmental Disabilities Surveillance and Research Program that is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; (2) activities administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support autism education, early detection, and intervention; and (3) the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee in HHS.

It also updates and establishes various related reporting requirements, including by requiring HHS to report on the feasibility of expanding certain training programs for developmental-behavioral pediatricians.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 118th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 374 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

374 yea15 nay40 present or did not vote

ProEstablishmentAnti
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(193)

Republicans who voted yea(181)

Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1220 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

Report a correction

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

Report a correction

Related bills

The record lists no related bills.

Data notes

Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.

Report a correction

Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 30 actions.

  1. Dec 23, 2024Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 118-180.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. FloorFloor · Presented to President.
  4. Dec 16, 2024Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 374 - 15 (Roll no. 502).House roll call 502
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  7. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Bucshon moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment.
  8. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of the debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 7213.
  9. OtherOther · Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 374 - 15 (Roll no. 502).House roll call 502
  10. Nov 22, 2024FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  11. Nov 21, 2024FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  12. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  13. Sep 19, 2024CommitteeCommittee · Received in the Senate, read twice.
  14. Sep 18, 2024FloorFloor · The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
  15. FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  16. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 402 - 13 (Roll no. 424).House roll call 424
  17. FloorFloor · Considered as unfinished business.
  18. Sep 17, 2024FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  19. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7213.
  20. FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
  21. FloorFloor · Mrs. Rodgers (WA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  22. Jul 30, 2024CalendarCalendar · Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 518.
  23. CommitteeCommittee · Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 118-620.
  24. Jun 12, 2024CommitteeCommittee · Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 42 - 0.
  25. CommitteeCommittee · Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  26. May 16, 2024CommitteeCommittee · Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 0.
  27. CommitteeCommittee · Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  28. Feb 2, 2024CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  29. Feb 1, 2024CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
  30. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in House
Data notes

Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.

Report a correction

Amendments

1 amendment offered to the bill, with the last recorded step of each.

  • S.Amdt. 3305SenateSen. Ben LujánD-NM· offered Nov 21, 2024Agreed to

    In the nature of a substitute.

    Nov 21, 2024: Amendment SA 3305 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

    Agreed to
Data notes

Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.

Report a correction

Official record

The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.