[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 9, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1000]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF THE DIABETES TREATMENT AND PREVENTION ACT OF 2007

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                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 9, 2007

  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce the Diabetes Treatment 
and Prevention Act of 2007 with my good friend, Vito Fossella.
  There is no question that diabetes is a mounting challenge for our 
nation's health care system. According to the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of Americans with diagnosed 
diabetes has doubled over the past 15 years. Over 20 million Americans 
are currently living with this disease, but 6 million of them have not 
yet been diagnosed. Another 54 million are classified as ``pre-
diabetic,'' with a high-risk of developing this condition. The 
statistics are simply staggering.
  Beyond being a public health threat, Diabetes accounts for over $92 
billion in direct medical costs every year, and these numbers are only 
likely to increase. The Diabetes Treatment and Prevention Act would 
increase our ability to prevent new cases of diabetes and improve 
disease management.
  Our bill would codify the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention's Division of Diabetes Translation and set up demonstration 
grants to allow for further research on how to translate effective diet 
and exercise interventions for us in the general populations. It would 
also increase the ability of state and local health departments to 
engage in surveillance and education activities, and set up 
demonstration projects to examine the best ways to treat diabetes when 
it occurs in conjunction with other chronic health conditions.
  I am proud that we have taken a multi-pronged approach in this 
legislation to attack our mounting diabetes epidemic on two fronts; it 
will promote research at the Centers for Disease Control so that we may 
better understand this disease while also funding innovative treatment 
and education efforts at the state and local level.
  This legislation, combined with the Engel/Fossella Gestational 
Diabetes (GEDI) Act (H.R. 1544), which combats growing rates of 
Diabetes in pregnant women across the nation will go a long way towards 
managing and preventing the onset of Diabetes.
  I urge my colleagues to co-sponsor this legislation today.

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