[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H8670]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SPEAKER GINGRICH SHOULD BRING TO THE FLOOR BILLS RELATING TO DIABETES

  (Ms. FURSE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. FURSE. Mr. Speaker, last week there was a historic meeting here 
in Washington. All the organizations who are working to end diabetes 
came to Washington for a call for action. The reason for this event was 
to celebrate that there are now 234 cosponsors of H.R. 1073 and 1074, 
but they also came here to call on the Speaker to bring those bills to 
the floor so we can vote on them.
  These bills are bipartisan. They were introduced by myself and the 
gentleman from Washington [Mr. Nethercutt]. As parents of children with 
diabetes, we know that if we can improve coverage for diabetes 
education and supplies, people can better manage this disease, which 
affects over 16 million Americans. We know that that will be a saving 
in the long run.
  As a result of this knowledge, we formed the Diabetes Caucus last 
year and we have introduced these bills. However, it is the Speaker who 
is able to bring bills to the floor. So today we ask the gentleman from 
Georgia [Mr. Gingrich] to bring these bills. He has previously stated 
his support for this issue. Bring them to the floor for a vote. Let us 
make a difference now for those 16 million Americans.

                          ____________________