[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 199 (Friday, December 28, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2667]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND SCHIP EXTENSION ACT OF 2O07

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2007

  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2499, the 
Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Program 
Extension Act of 2007. The measure includes an important, albeit 
limited, delay of the scheduled 10 percent cut to Medicare's physician 
payment rates, which will help ensure quality care and access for 
Medicare patients without the cuts to vital Medicare programs I opposed 
previously. While not the expansion to reach an additional 4 million 
children I had hoped for, S. 2449 also extends the authorization for 
the State Children's Health Insurance Program until March 31, 2009, 
ensuring the needs of the 6 million children currently enrolled are 
met. I hope Congress will again forge ahead and continue negotiations 
to reach more of these eligible and uninsured children.
  As co-chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus, I was extremely 
pleased to see the reauthorization of the Special Diabetes Program to 
fund type 1 diabetes research and type 2 treatment and prevention 
programs for Native Americans and Alaska Natives included in S. 2449. I 
am the lead Republican sponsor, with my colleague Representative Diana 
DeGette, of legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, H.R. 
2762, to reauthorize the Special Diabetes Program for Type I Research 
and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians for 5 years and to 
increase the authorized funding level to $200 million annually for each 
program. While a long-term extension is needed, in this difficult 
budget environment a short-term extension is a step in the right 
direction and I will continue to work next year with my colleagues to 
finish the job and secure a multi-year renewal so the critical long-
term projects supported by this program can continue.
  Since their creation in 1997, the Special Diabetes Programs have led 
to research breakthroughs through the Special Diabetes Program for Type 
1 Research and have increased diabetes treatment and prevention 
programs for Native Americans and Alaska Natives through the Special 
Diabetes Program for Indians. Before this time, efforts on both fronts 
were in short supply. The Special Diabetes Programs have been 
reauthorized twice and have enjoyed broad bipartisan support in both 
the House and Senate; and H.R. 2762 continues in this spirit with 225 
cosponsors.
  The reauthorization of the Special Diabetes Programs is vitally 
important and an extension to September 30, 2009 is welcome.
  With over 20 million adults and children in the U.S. affected by 
diabetes, the cost to the U.S. economy is estimated at $132 billion per 
year in direct and indirect medical costs alone. Continued funding of 
the Special Diabetes Programs will ensure that the Federal effort to 
combat diabetes remains strong, as we ardently work to ensure that 
accelerated diabetes research, treatment, and prevention efforts with 
on the ground results in improving the lives of millions of people 
burdened with diabetes continue. I will continue to push for a longer 
extension of the Special Diabetes Programs.

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