[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 91 (Thursday, June 24, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          CHILDREN'S CONGRESS

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                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 24, 1999

  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize the 
children who are here in our Nation's Capital this week for the first 
Children's Congress. Children from all 50 States are meeting with 
Members of Congress to discuss funding for research to find a cure for 
juvenile diabetes.
  The Children's Congress was organized by the Juvenile Diabetes 
Foundation International. JDF was founded in 1970 by parents of 
children with diabetes. The mission of JDF is to find a cure for this 
disease through research within their children's lifetime. I can't 
think of a better way to understand the daily frustrations experienced 
by children with diabetes than to listen to their concerns. These 
children are helping others by sharing their own experience with 
diabetes and teaching us about its impact on their lives.
  Many may not realize the extent of the negative effects diabetes can 
have on people. This dreadful disease attacks 16 million Americans and 
is a leading cause of blindness, kidney disease, heart disease, and 
amputations. The reality is, people with diabetes live 15 years less 
than those without. As Members of Congress, we have the unique 
opportunity to help find a cure for diabetes by funding further 
research.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support the cause of the 
Children's Congress and support allocations for more resources and 
medical research. I would like to thank the courageous young boys and 
girls of Children's Congress for taking the time to educate my 
colleagues and me on this terrible disease.




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