[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 16, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E29-E30]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO NICOLE SCHWARTZ

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 16, 2008

  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Madam Speaker, I am honored to rise here today to 
recognize the efforts of Ms. Nicole Schwartz to promote a ``Bill of 
Rights for Diabetics.''
  Ms. Schwartz is an exemplary young woman whose passion to fight 
diabetes is leaving an indelible mark in our community. By

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taking it upon herself to raise awareness of this devastating disease 
among the people most vulnerable to it, she is setting an important 
example of how civic engagement can change the lives of our fellow 
community members. She has actively engaged policy makers at the local, 
State and Federal level as well as prominent civic organizations to 
further awareness.
  For example, in partnering with the League of Latin American Citizens 
(LULAC), Ms. Schwartz organized a health fair to share important 
resources and information about diabetes with at-risk San Antonians. 
She also volunteers her time at the Christus Santa Rosa Hospital in 
order to learn more about the disease and distribute her knowledge to 
patients through a newsletter she created.
  Without question, her dedication and persistence have proven 
essential in educating her colleagues and community. These two personal 
qualities also played a role in her efforts to encourage organizations 
like LULAC to adopt her Bill of Rights for Diabetics. The Bill of 
Rights echoes the 2007 ADA Standards of Care and includes the six 
following exams: a hemoglobin/A1c test; a lipid evaluation; blood 
pressure checks; a microalbumin test; a dilated and comprehensive eye 
examination; and a barefoot exam.
  Ms. Schwartz shares a passion for learning more about diabetes with 
her father, Dr. Sherwin Schwartz, who built one of the largest diabetes 
research facilities in the country. Only a junior at St. Mary's Hall in 
San Antonio, Ms. Schwartz has the potential to achieve much more and 
hopes to pursue a degree at Georgetown University.
  As a Member of Congress who represents the Texas-Mexico Border, a 
region with one of the highest incidences of diabetes in the world, I 
am acutely aware of the impact of diabetes and the other health 
problems associated with it. Young people such as Ms. Schwartz are 
invaluable partners in bettering our communities, and I thank her for 
her efforts.
  It is with great pride that I recognize Ms. Schwartz as an exemplary 
young leader in the San Antonio community, and I wish her continued 
success in raising awareness about this devastating disease.

                          ____________________