DoD-ARP News:

Congress Approves $6.4 Million for DoD-ARP for FY 2011

Washington, DC -- The U.S. Congress has approved $6.4 million in funding for the Department of Defense Autism Research Program (DoD-ARP) for Fiscal Year 2011.  This funding has been included as part of the Defense Health Account in the Defense Appropriations bill and is the slightly lower than what Congress provided in FY 2009 and 2010.  The $6.4 million will go to continue funding of a research program to help military families with children who suffer from autism spectrum disorders. 

Shelley Hendrix, Director of State Based Advocacy, and Ann Gibbons, Executive Director of the National Capitol Area for Autism Speaks, sit on the DoD-ARP Implementation Panel.

Featured Headlines:

President Bush Signs Bill Funding DoD Autism Reasearch Program for Third Straight Year (September 30, 2008)

Summary of DoD-ARP Appropriations:

The Defense Department's autism research program is funded in the U.S. Army Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation Medical Advanced Technology account. It is administered as a Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), similar to current programs for breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers. Research funded by CDMRP is peer-reviewed, benefits from the direct input of consumer advocates, and is targeted to the most innovative, promising research in the field.

In the Fiscal 2011 Defense Appropriations bill, Congress included $6.4 million for autism research. For FY2012, Autism Speaks, along with several Members of Congress, are supporting an appropriation of $10 million to be included in the Department of Defense appropriations bill for autism research. 

Helpful Links:

• Read the Senate Dear Colleague letter in support of FY2012 funding for the DoD-ARP (June 1, 2011)
  
   
• Read the FY09 Defense Appropriations bill as passed (This is just the part containing the information for the ARP on page 4)
  
  
• Find out more about this program on the CDMRP website