[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 111 (Thursday, July 25, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H8381]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       THE FIGHT TO CURE DIABETES

  (Mr. NETHERCUTT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. NETHERCUTT. Madam Speaker, today is a new day in the fight to 
cure diabetes. Not only Members of Congress but every group who is 
dedicated to curing this disease and preventing its health 
consequences, from the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation to the American 
Diabetes Foundation to the Coalition for Diabetes Research, they are 
all concerned about and they are united behind legislation that has 
been introduced by the gentlewoman from Oregon [Ms. Furse] and me and 
sponsored by over 230 other Members of Congress.
  We all realize that the complications of diabetes can be prevented if 
the 16 million American diabetics and over 100 million diabetics 
internationally have the proper education about their disease and the 
means to take care of themselves.
  This legislation does just that, Madam Speaker. It allows Medicare to 
cover the cost of diabetes education and the cost of blood testing and 
monitoring, critical factors if we are to reduce the $100 billion it 
costs American society each year to combat the results of diabetes.
  I urge all my colleagues and the other 200 who have not sponsored it 
yet to support this legislation and give life to the fight against 
diabetes.

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