[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 38 (Thursday, March 30, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S1976]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           DIABETES RESEARCH

 Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise today to support increased 
research funding for diabetes, a devastating disease that afflicts 16 
million Americans, one-third of whom do not even know that they have 
it.
  Diabetes kills one American every three minutes, discriminating 
neither on the basis of age, race, or belief. It is a lifelong 
affliction, with severe consequences. This was made painfully clear to 
me by a meeting I recently had with a boy and his family from Montana.
  Justin Windham, from Missoula, said to me: ``I want a cure for 
diabetes because I don't want to have any long term effects like: going 
blind, kidney problems, or losing my legs. Also I would like to be able 
to eat whatever my friends eat and not feel left out.''
  Justin, and the 16 million other Americans with diabetes, should be 
able to live their lives without fear of medical complications or the 
pain of being ostracized. That is why Congress has a responsibility to 
fund diabetes research and prevention. I urge my colleagues to devote 
increased resources for research on diabetes, so that our scientists 
can find a cure.

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