[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 71 (Tuesday, June 4, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H3101-H3103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 URGING INCREASED FEDERAL FUNDING FOR JUVENILE TYPE 1 DIABETES RESEARCH

  Mr. TAUZIN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for the immediate 
consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 36) urging 
increased Federal funding for juvenile (type 1) diabetes research.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Louisiana?
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, reserving the right to object, I 
will not object; but I would ask the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. 
Tauzin), the chairman of our full committee, to give an explanation of 
the bill.
  Mr. TAUZIN. Madam Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. I yield to the gentleman from Louisiana.
  Mr. TAUZIN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.
  As the gentleman knows, at this time, more than 1 million Americans 
have type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a disease which strikes 
children suddenly. It makes them insulin-dependent for life, and it 
carries a constant threat of life-threatening complications. Someone is 
diagnosed with type 1 diabetes every hour. This devastating disease 
also afflicts adult populations.
  Madam Speaker, I want to applaud the efforts of the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Green) to raise awareness about juvenile (type 1) diabetes 
and the need to find a cure for this disease.
  I ask my colleagues to support this very worthwhile resolution.
  (Mr. GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Continuing my reservation of objection, Madam 
Speaker, I know the gentleman has been a long-time advocate for 
increasing funding for juvenile diabetes, and he has been recognized 
many times by the health care industry.
  I think all of us have been touched by someone with diabetes. 
Throughout my life, I have met many courageous people who have 
struggled with this disease every day.
  I want to especially mention the Balthazars. They are not only 
constituents, but live in my hometown of Houston. They had come to a 
town hall meeting a couple of years ago to tell me about the struggle 
their family faces with their son, Larry, who has juvenile diabetes.
  Larry Balthazar was diagnosed with this horrible disease when he was 
2 years old. He has no memory of life without insulin shots, blood 
glucose tests, hypoglycemia, or the fear of dreaded complications. He 
has never had the chance to live a carefree life that every child 
deserves. Instead, he is tied to a regimen of painful shots, finger 
pricks, and a strictly controlled diet, which is not a way to spend a 
childhood.
  Unfortunately, Larry's childhood is no different than that of 1 
million other Americans with juvenile diabetes. This serious disease 
restricts the ability of these people and their families to live normal 
lives. Instead, they are forced to give themselves multiple insulin 
injections each day, test their blood sugar frequently, and be prepared 
for the high and low blood sugars that ravage their bodies.
  If their blood sugar is too high, they face the possibility of 
blindness, heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, kidney failure, and 
lower-limb amputation.

                              {time}  1845

  With low blood sugar, people with diabetes suffer disease, dizziness, 
hunger, seizure, coma and even death. This disease forces its victims 
into a careful balancing act that is almost impossible to achieve. 
While this is all very sobering, we have never been closer to finding a 
cure for this horrible disease. Research in islet cell transplantation 
has

[[Page H3102]]

shown great potential for individuals with diabetes and has already 
freed many people with diabetes from their syringes and their glucose 
meters. Stem cell research also holds incredible promise for recreating 
these cells that are destroyed by diabetes. Further advancement in this 
field almost certainly could cure juvenile diabetes forever. But like 
any other disease, these advancements will never be realized unless we 
invest the resources necessary to find a cure.
  That is why myself and 127 other Members of the House have 
cosponsored and introduced H. Con. Res. 36, the important resolution to 
fully fund diabetes research, and urge this Congress to invest the 
amount recommended by the Diabetes Research Working Group.
  The DRWG was appointed by the Congress in 1998 to develop a 
comprehensive plan for diabetes research.
  The findings of this group were very compelling. They recommended 
several different approaches to finding a cure and improving treatments 
for diabetes.
  But these recommendations are meaningless if they are not backed up 
by an increase in funding.
  While there has been some increases in diabetes funding at the NIH, 
much more needs to be done. This year, diabetes will receive $769 
million in funding at the NIH--only slightly more than half the amount 
recommended by the DRWG.
  If we are serious about finding a cure for this serious disease, then 
we must make the necessary investment to find a cure.
  H. Con. Res. 36 with 127 co-sponsors expresses the sense of Congress 
that federal funding for diabetes research should be increased in 
accordance with the recommendations of the Diabetes Research Working 
Group.
  By passing this resolution on the floor today, we are reaffirming our 
commitment to win the battle against juvenile diabetes.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. 
DeGette), the cochair of the Diabetes Caucus.
  (Ms. DeGETTE asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Green) for this wonderful concurrent resolution. As cochair of the 
Diabetes Caucus and the mother of an eight-year-old child with Type I 
diabetes, I rise in support of this legislation.
  Madam Speaker, thank you for allowing me to speak today about 
diabetes and the need to continue to fund research at a high level as 
this topic holds a great personal value to me.
  Over one million people are juvenile diabetics. That number is 
increasing every day as 13,000 children a year--35 each day--are 
diagnosed with juvenile diabetes and 17,000 adults a year--46 each 
day--are diagnosed with juvenile diabetics.
  Last June I was pleased to serve as Honorary Co-Chair of the 2001 
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Children's Congress, during 
which 200 children with juvenile diabetes came to Washington to 
advocate for juvenile diabetes research. While in Washington these 
children asked for our help to ensure that they will soon be free from 
the burden of finger pricks, insulin injections, hypoglycemia and the 
fear of complications such as nerve damage, heart attack, blindness and 
amputation. There is great reason to believe that this hope will be 
realized.
  Researchers are closing in on a cure for this disease. As many of you 
are aware, clinical trials are underway involving the transplantation 
of insulin producing cells into individuals with juvenile diabetes. 80% 
of the patients who have received these transplants have been cured of 
juvenile diabetes and no longer need insulin injections. However, there 
are two obstacles to this research.
  The first is that the recipients of the transplanted insulin-
producing cells must undergo immunosuppressive therapy to prevent 
rejection of the cells. This problem is being addressed by the research 
of the NIH-funded Immune Tolerance Network, the goal of which is to 
develop a way to transplant organs and tissue, including islet cells, 
without subjecting the recipients to a lifetime of immunosuppressive 
therapy. The progress of this research would not only help children 
with juvenile diabetes, but also patients with a wide variety of 
autoimmune diseases and disorders, such as Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, 
and Multiple Sclerosis.
  The second obstacle is of greater concern to researchers. There is a 
serious shortage of cadaver pancreases from which the insulin producing 
cells must be derived for transplant. Less than 2000 pancreases are 
available each year for both whole organ transplants and the derivation 
of insulin producing cells for the experimental trails. Therefore, if 
and when these transplants are ready to be applied to everyone who 
suffers from juvenile diabetes, only a very small fraction will 
benefit.
  Researchers are currently looking for alternate supplies of insulin 
producing cells. One of the most promising potential sources is 
embryonic stem cells. Researchers are demonstrating that embryonic stem 
cells can be turned into insulin producing cells, which could lead to a 
virtually unlimited supply for transplant into all patients with 
juvenile diabetes.
  All Americans suffering from diabetes are in a race against time. 
Their future could hold deadly complications such as kidney failure, 
blindness, nerve, amputation and stroke. We owe it to those 17 million 
Americans--1 million, which are juvenile diabetics--to ensure that all 
promising avenues of diabetes research, are pursued with adequate 
resources.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar).
  (Mr. OBERSTAR asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of 
objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Louisiana?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the concurrent resolution, as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 36

       Whereas over one million Americans suffer from juvenile 
     (type 1) diabetes, a chronic, genetically determined, 
     debilitating disease affecting every organ system;
       Whereas 13,000 children a year--35 each day--are diagnosed 
     with juvenile diabetes;
       Whereas 17,000 adults a year--46 each day--are diagnosed 
     with juvenile diabetes;
       Whereas juvenile diabetes is one of the most costly chronic 
     diseases of childhood;
       Whereas insulin treats but does not cure this potentially 
     deadly disease and does not prevent the complications of 
     diabetes, which include blindness, heart attack, kidney 
     failure, stroke, nerve damage, and amputations; and
       Whereas the Diabetes Research Working Group, a nonpartisan 
     advisory board established to advise Congress, has called for 
     an accelerated and expanded diabetes research program at the 
     National Institutes of Health and has recommended an increase 
     in Federal funding for diabetes research at the National 
     Institutes of Health over each of the next five years: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Federal funding for diabetes research 
     should be increased annually as recommended by the Diabetes 
     Research Working Group so that a cure for juvenile diabetes 
     can be found.


     Amendment In the Nature of a Substitute Offered by Mr. Tauzin

  Mr. TAUZIN. Madam Speaker, I offer an amendment to the text.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. 
     Tauzin: strike out all after the resolving clause and insert:
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Federal funding for diabetes research 
     should be increased annually as recommended by the Diabetes 
     Research Working Group so that a cure for juvenile diabetes 
     can be found.

  Mr. TAUZIN (during the reading). Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that the amendment be considered as read and printed in the 
Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Louisiana?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment in the 
nature of a substitute offered by the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. 
Tauzin).
  The amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution was agreed to.


            Amendment to the Preamble Offered by Mr. Tauzin

  Mr. TAUZIN. Madam Speaker, I offer an amendment to the preamble.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment to the preamble offered by Mr. Tauzin: strike out 
     the preamble and insert:
       Whereas over one million Americans suffer from juvenile 
     (type 1) diabetes, a chronic, genetically determined, 
     debilitating disease affecting every organ system;
       Whereas 13,000 children a year--35 each day--are diagnosed 
     with juvenile diabetes;
       Whereas 17,000 adults a year--46 each day--are diagnosed 
     with juvenile diabetes;
       Whereas juvenile diabetes is one of the most costly chronic 
     diseases of childhood;
       Whereas insulin treats but does not cure this potentially 
     deadly disease and does not prevent the complications of 
     diabetes, which include blindness, heart attack, kidney 
     failure, stroke, nerve damage, and amputations; and
       Whereas the Diabetes Research Working Group, a nonpartisan 
     advisory board established to advise Congress, has called for 
     an accelerated and expanded diabetes research program at the 
     National Institutes of Health and

[[Page H3103]]

     has recommended an increase in Federal funding for diabetes 
     research at the National Institutes of Health over each of 
     the next five years: Now, therefore, be it

  Mr. TAUZIN (during the reading). Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that the amendment to the preamble be considered as read and 
printed in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Louisiana?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment to the 
preamble offered by the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin).
  The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.
  The title of the concurrent resolution was amended so as to read: ``A 
concurrent resolution urging increased Federal funding for juvenile 
(type 1) diabetes research.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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