[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 118 (Thursday, July 17, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S6934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                        BROIN FAMILY GENEROSITY

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize the Todd 
and Linda Broin family of Sioux Falls, SD, and applaud their 
generosity. Through a charitable gift to the Sanford Project, the 
Broins have made a major contribution in the global effort to cure type 
1 diabetes.
  The Sanford Project, an initiative of one of South Dakota's health 
care systems, seeks to focus research efforts on one critical health 
care issue with the goal of making significant process toward curing or 
otherwise eliminating the disease. Last month, Sanford Project leaders 
announced their focus on curing type 1 diabetes, with a specific 
emphasis on beta cell regeneration.
  Type 1 diabetes, also called juvenile diabetes, is a severe disease 
with no known cause or cure that affects nearly 3 million Americans and 
their families. Linda Broin's own experience with type 1 diabetes, 
stemming from her diagnosis with the disease at age 12, makes this 
contribution all the more personal, and inspirational. The Broins' 
generosity will allow for the establishment of the Todd and Linda 
Broin, chair, of the Sanford Project, and their gift will be used to 
support the salary and related expenses of the person who leads the 
campaign to cure type 1 diabetes. I am extremely pleased the Sanford 
Project is dedicating health research resources to cure type 1 
diabetes, and, like so many others, I am grateful that the Broins' gift 
will advance the recruitment of top researchers to lead this project.
  Diabetes is a severe disease that can result in a range of 
disabilities, including blindness, amputations, and kidney failure. 
Given the cost of diabetes not only to Americans' health, but also to 
our personal finances and our economy, it is clear that funding for 
diabetes research and prevention needs to be a priority. Biomedical 
research is the key to solving unanswered questions regarding this 
disease and holds the potential to impact millions of lives. While 
government funding clearly plays an important role in fueling research, 
the Broins' private contribution provides vital flexibility and garners 
even greater interest for the project.
  I am pleased the Sanford Project's efforts have been amplified and I 
commend the Broin family's generosity in their gift and efforts to 
increase awareness about this disease.

                          ____________________