[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 26, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2183]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E2183]]



  IN RECOGNITION OF THE JUVENILE DIABETES FOUNDATION DURING NATIONAL 
                        DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GERALD D. KLECZKA

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 26, 1999

  Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of 
this body an organization that is leading the fight against a disease 
that debilitates and claims the lives of millions of Americans each 
year.
  The statistics regarding diabetes are appalling. On average, the 
disease kills one American every three minutes. Sixteen million 
Americans suffer from the disease; of those, 5.4 million are 
undiagnosed. And, it should be known that taking insulin does not cure 
the disease or prevent the development of complications.
  Tragically, diabetes strikes people of all ages. And it is a costly 
medical and financial burden. The average lifetime cost of diabetes 
care for a person diagnosed at age 3 is calculated at $600,000.
  In this regard, we look to groups such as the Juvenile Diabetes 
Foundation International (JDF), a non-profit, non-governmental 
organization founded in 1970 by parents of children with diabetes. 
JDF's mission is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications 
through the support of research.
  Since its founding, JDF has spent more resources on diabetes research 
than any other non-profit, non-governmental agency in the world. 
Volunteers help define research priorities, select grant recipients, 
lead advocacy efforts, and provide guidance to overall operations.
  At least 80 cents of every dollar goes directly to research and 
education. The Wall Street Journal's Smart Money Magazine name JDF one 
of the Nation's top 10 charities ``you can trust'' and one of only two 
charities in the health field.
  This year alone, more than 200 research grants and over 110 
fellowship and career development awards were granted to scientists in 
17 countries throughout the world. In 28 years, JDF has been 
instrumental in encouraging the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to 
increase diabetes research funding from $18 million to $415 million 
annually.
  Mr. Speaker, as we recognize November as National Diabetes Awareness 
Month, I would like to commemorate the outstanding and selfless work of 
the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International.

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