[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 189 (Wednesday, November 29, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S17782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       THE DIABETES RESEARCH ACT

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I am pleased to rise today, along with 
my able colleague Senator Simon, to introduce the Diabetes Research 
Act. Diabetes is a chronic, and often fatal, disease affecting more 
than 14 million Americans. Billions of dollars are spent annually to 
care for those afflicted by this disease. It is the fourth leading 
cause of death in the United States and a major cause of kidney 
disease, heart disease, amputation, and adult blindness. Scientists 
tell us that medical research holds a cure for diabetes, yet the 
problem persists.
  In February of this year, I attended the Capitol Summit on Diabetes 
Research where leading scientists from around the Nation presented a 
comprehensive plan to direct diabetes research to a cure by the turn of 
the century. Recent evidence indicates that we are on the verge of 
uncovering new prevention, screening, and treatment procedures that 
will dramatically improve diabetes therapy and lead to a cure in the 
very near future.
  The bill I am introducing today will substantially increase the funds 
available to the National Institutes of Health for diabetes research. I 
believe that at this critical juncture in the fight to end diabetes, it 
is imperative that we provide additional funding to our scientists who 
are on the verge of finding a cure. Every year, over $100 billion is 
spent caring for the 14 million citizens suffering with the 
complications of this devastating disease. This bill increases the 
authorization by $315 million for diabetes research. In light of the 
emotional and financial burden that diabetes brings to our country, I 
believe that this bill represents a prudent, invaluable investment in 
our Nation's future. I urge my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring 
this critical legislation so that we can end diabetes, and end the pain 
that this disease brings to its sufferers and their loved ones.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1437

       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 ``Diabetes Research Act of 
     1995''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds as follows:
       (1) Diabetes is a serious health problem in America.
       (2) More than 14,000,000 Americans suffer from diabetes.
       (3) Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in 
     America, taking the lives of 162,000 people annually.
       (4) Diabetes disproportionately affects minority 
     populations, especially African-Americans, Hispanics, and 
     Native Americans.
       (5) Diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness, 
     affecting up to 39,000 Americans each year.
       (6) Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure 
     requiring dialysis or transplantation, affecting up to 13,000 
     Americans each year.
       (7) Diabetes is the leading cause of nontraumatic 
     amputations, affecting 54,000 Americans each year.
       (8) The cost of treating diabetes and its complications are 
     staggering for our Nation.
       (9) Diabetes accounted for health expenditures of 
     $105,000,000,000 in 1992.
       (10) Diabetes accounts for over 14 percent of our Nation's 
     health care costs.
       (11) Federal funds invested in diabetes research over the 
     last two decades has led to significant advances and, 
     according to leading scientists and endocrinologists, has 
     brought the United States to the threshold of 
     revolutionary discoveries which hold the potential to 
     dramatically reduce the economic and social burden of this 
     disease.
       (12) The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and 
     Kidney Diseases supports, in addition to many other areas of 
     research, genetic research, islet cell transportation 
     research, and prevention and treatment clinical trials 
     focusing on diabetes. Other research institutes within the 
     National Institutes of Health conduct diabetes-related 
     research focusing on its numerous complications, such as 
     heart disease, eye and kidney problems, amputations, and 
     diabetic neuropathy.

     SEC. 3. NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH; INCREASED FUNDING 
                   REGARDING DIABETES.

       With respect to the conduct and support of diabetes-related 
     research by the National Institutes of Health--
       (1) in addition to any other authorization of 
     appropriations that is available for such purpose for the 
     fiscal year involved, there are authorized to be appropriated 
     for such purpose such sums as may be necessary for each of 
     the fiscal years 1996 through 2000; and
       (2) of the amounts appropriated under paragraph (1) for 
     such purpose for a fiscal year, the Director of the National 
     Institutes of Health shall reserve--
       (A) not less than $155,000,000 for such purpose for the 
     National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney 
     Diseases; and
       (B) not less than $160,000,000 for such purpose for the 
     other national research institutes.

  Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, during this National Diabetes Awareness 
Month, I am pleased to join my colleague Senator Strom Thurmond in 
introducing the Diabetes Research Act of 1995, a bill to authorize 
increased funding for diabetes research. It is identical to legislation 
introduced in the House earlier this year by Representative Elizabeth 
Furse and Representative George R. Nethercutt, Jr.
  Information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and 
Kidney Diseases shows there has been a dramatic increase recently in 
the number of Americans with diabetes--almost a 50 percent increase 
since 1983. About 15 million Americans now have diabetes, and an 
estimated half of them do not know they have the disease.
  Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death by illness in the 
United States. It can lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, 
stroke, and nerve damage. And it affects minority groups two to three 
times more frequently than others.
  The rapid increase is taking place primarily in type II diabetes--
adult-onset diabetes--which makes up 95 percent of cases. This type of 
diabetes is usually diagnosed at age 51, and with increasing numbers of 
Americans in this age range, we can expect an even higher incidence of 
diabetes in the future.
  The diabetes-related costs to the Nation each year are estimated at 
over $100 million. And each day, thousands of Americans are facing 
blindness, amputation of extremities, and heart disease as a result of 
the disease.
  We need to make research in this area a priority, and that is the 
purpose of the $315 million increase in NIH funding in this bill. The 
good news is, diabetes research is making great strides, and additional 
effort has an excellent chance of providing breakthrough results, 
saving thousands of lives, improving the lives of millions more and 
saving billions of health care dollars.
  I invite my colleagues' support for this legislation.

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