[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 183 (Tuesday, December 8, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H13582-H13584]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FUNDING FOR CONTINUED TYPE 1 DIABETES RESEARCH

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 35) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that Congress should provide increased Federal funding 
for continued type 1 diabetes research.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

[[Page H13583]]

                               H. Res. 35

       Whereas as many as 3,000,000 Americans suffer from type 1 
     diabetes, a chronic, genetically determined, debilitating 
     disease affecting every organ system;
       Whereas more than 15,000 children each year are diagnosed 
     with type 1 diabetes, a disease caused by an autoimmune 
     attack that destroys the insulin-producing beta cells of the 
     pancreas;
       Whereas diabetes is one of the most costly chronic 
     diseases, costing the United States economy more than 
     $174,000,000,000 and costing individuals with diabetes an 
     average of $13,000 in annual health care costs, compared to 
     $2,600 for individuals without diabetes;
       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;
       Whereas the National Institutes of Health has established 6 
     goal areas to guide type 1 diabetes research focused on the 
     reduction, prevention, and cure of type 1 diabetes and its 
     complications;
       Whereas Federal funding has enabled research focused on 
     determining the underlying genetic and environmental causes 
     of diabetes and testing of promising new treatments to halt 
     and reverse the autoimmune attack causing type 1 diabetes;
       Whereas a cure for type 1 diabetes will require restoring 
     beta cell function either by replacement with transplantation 
     or by beta cell regeneration;
       Whereas the development of a ``closed-loop'' artificial 
     pancreas would greatly alleviate the daily burden of disease 
     management for type 1 diabetes patients by continuously 
     monitoring blood sugar levels, infusing insulin as necessary 
     when blood glucose levels become too high, and warning 
     patients when blood glucose levels become dangerously low;
       Whereas continued progress toward a cure for type 1 
     diabetes depends on training the next generation of diabetes 
     researchers;
       Whereas a strong public-private partnership to fund type 1 
     diabetes exists between the Federal Government and the 
     Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, a 
     foundation which has awarded more than $1,000,000,000 for 
     diabetes research since its founding and in fiscal year 2008 
     provided more than $156,000,000 for diabetes research in 20 
     countries;
       Whereas Congress has provided $150,000,000 annually through 
     fiscal year 2011 for the Special Statutory Funding Program 
     for type 1 Diabetes Research;
       Whereas the National Institutes of Health devoted a total 
     of $433,000,000 in fiscal year 2009 for type 1 diabetes 
     research; and
       Whereas leading type 1 diabetes researchers have 
     recommended a total funding level of $4,100,000,000 for 
     fiscal years 2009 through 2013 in order to meet the National 
     Institutes of Health's type 1 research goals: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That Federal funding for diabetes research should 
     be increased to meet the National Institutes of Health's 
     goals so that a cure for type 1 diabetes can be found.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Capps) and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to include extraneous materials into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CAPPS. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 35, 
expressing the sense of the House that Congress should provide 
increased Federal research funding for type 1 diabetes. Diabetes is one 
of the most prevalent and costly chronic conditions in the United 
States today.
  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 
24 million Americans--that's roughly 8 percent of the United States 
population--have diabetes. Direct and indirect costs of diabetes 
totaled $174 billion in 2007, $120 billion of which were direct medical 
costs attributable to diabetes.
  Three million Americans have type 1 diabetes, which results when the 
body's immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas 
that regulate blood glucose levels. Individuals with type 1 diabetes 
depend on insulin, but even with adherence to insulin treatment, 
individuals with type 1 diabetes are still very vulnerable to the many 
complications that this disease offers, which are blindness, kidney 
failure, and amputation.
  As a school nurse, I became intimately aware of the challenges faced 
by children with type 1 diabetes and of the impact it has on their 
families and on their classmates as well. During the years I cared for 
those students, we discussed the potential for a cure by now. 
Unfortunately, we still have a ways to go.
  The Federal funding of diabetes research has resulted in tremendous 
advancements for our understanding and our treatment of the disease. We 
have successfully determined underlying genetic and environmental 
causes of diabetes, and we are testing and promising new treatments, 
but there is still much more work to be done.
  The National Institutes of Health devoted $433 million in fiscal year 
2009 for type 1 diabetes research. This resolution calls for a doubling 
of annual NIH funding to meet leading researchers' estimates of the 
funding needed to accomplish NIH's six goals related to type 1 
diabetes.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in calling for the 
passage of this resolution and of increased research funding to find a 
cure for type 1 diabetes. I want to thank my colleague on the Energy 
and Commerce Committee, Congressman Gene Green, for his leadership on 
this important issue.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TERRY. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Diabetes Caucus and throughout most 
of the 1990s, I was a member of our regional diabetes board for the 
ADA. In fact, I call myself a perpetual vice chairman of our region. So 
it is with great pride that I am here in support and that I encourage 
my colleagues to support H. Res. 35.
  I want to recognize the 23.6 million Americans who suffer from 
diabetes. Diabetes can lead to serious complications and premature 
death, but people with diabetes can take steps to control the disease 
and to lower their risks of complications.
  The Centers for Disease Control has stated that the progression of 
diabetes among those with prediabetes is not inevitable, and studies 
have shown that people with prediabetes who lose weight and who 
increase their physical activity can prevent or delay diabetes and can 
return their blood pressure to near normal. Through regular exercise 
and a steady diet, Americans can return to a healthier state of living 
and can avoid diabetes.
  Because diabetes affects individuals in different ways, it is 
important that we educate our communities about the causes and about 
effective ways to avoid diabetes through living a healthy lifestyle. 
Additionally, we must continue to research the causes, treatment, 
education, and eventual cure for diabetes through public and private 
partnerships.
  I do believe that the 1,000-page health reform bill, which was rushed 
through the House of Representatives by the other side of the aisle to 
establish a government takeover of health care, will negatively impact 
those with diabetes and will severely curtail our ability to find a 
cure. I fail to see how a massive government takeover of our health 
care system and how the creation of scores of new bureaucracies will 
revitalize our economy or will give Americans better care.
  Instead, the House Tri-Committee bill would ration health care like 
it is done in the U.K. and Canada. This rationing of health care will 
not be better for the patients. It will lead to many diabetics in need 
of dialysis and care who will be turned away or who will have longer 
wait times when they need access to physicians.
  In addition to nearly a $1 trillion health reform bill which was 
pushed on the American public, the recent stimulus legislation provided 
an extra $10 billion of funding to the NIH for the advancement of 
scientific research. Unfortunately, long-held processes on the length 
and structure of trials have been ignored in order to spend the funds 
as quickly as possible and in as many Congressional districts as 
possible.
  Instead of rushing to spend billions of dollars for a political photo 
op, it would have been more responsible, both scientifically and 
fiscally, to continue to have the NIH determine what trials' processes 
deserve the most merit. If we hadn't rushed to spend in the name of 
``stimulus,'' I believe that some of the $10 billion could have been 
used for research into type 1 diabetes.
  I want to see Americans recognizing the significance of monitoring 
their

[[Page H13584]]

own and members of their families' health in getting the proper and 
timely treatment for diabetes. I would also like to see, through 
public-private partnerships, a continued commitment to diabetes 
research so that, one day, we may have a cure.
  I would like to thank the sponsor of this bill, Representative Gene 
Green from Texas, for his work on this resolution. I stand, once again, 
in support of this legislation, and I hope my colleagues will join me.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I wish to respond to my friend and colleague 
from Nebraska by reminding us all that, with the health care and 
insurance reform legislation that has been proposed, one of the effects 
would be that more Americans would have access to preventative and 
primary care, which would, hopefully, mitigate the onset of diabetes 
and its effects on Americans.
  Now it is my great pleasure to yield as much time as he may consume 
to my colleague from Texas, Gene Green. He is the resolution sponsor.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. I would like to thank the vice Chair of the 
Energy and Commerce Committee for yielding to me.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution discusses type 1 diabetes, which is 
typically the early onset of juvenile diabetes in some of us, but it 
does sometimes affect older children. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, 
genetically determined, and debilitating disease caused by an 
autoimmune attack that destroys the insulin-producing beta cells of the 
pancreas, and it affects every organ system. As many as 3 million 
Americans suffer from type 1 diabetes, with more than 15,000 children 
being diagnosed with the disease annually.
  Diabetes is one of the most costly chronic diseases, costing the 
United States economy more than $174 billion annually in direct and 
indirect health care costs. On average, individuals with diabetes pay 
$13,000 in annual health care costs compared to $2,600 for individuals 
without diabetes.
  Insulin treats but does not cure this potentially deadly disease nor 
does it prevent the complications of diabetes, which include blindness, 
heart attacks, kidney failure, strokes, nerve damage, and amputations. 
Diabetes is also the leading cause of legal blindness in working-age 
adults, and nearly all of type 1 diabetes patients exhibit some degree 
of eye disease after living with diabetes for 15 to 20 years.
  A special diabetes program was created that provides significant 
support to the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network, which is 
a nationwide network involving 163 clinical sites in 43 States, in 
order to address the number of individuals diagnosed with type 1 
diabetes and to find a cure.
  The National Institutes of Health has established six goal areas to 
guide type 1 diabetes research, which are focused on the reduction, 
prevention, and cure of type 1 diabetes and its complications. The 
National Institutes of Health devoted $433 million in fiscal year 2009 
for type 1 diabetes research. Congress currently provides $150 million 
annually, through fiscal year 2011, for the Special Statutory Funding 
Program for type 1 diabetes research. Promising advances have been made 
in determining root causes of the disease, and finding a cure will 
depend on funded research initiatives and on training the next 
generation of diabetes researchers.
  Congress can do more to advance the research on type 1 diabetes. This 
resolution calls for the doubling of annual NIH funding to meet leading 
researchers' estimates of funding needed to meet NIH's six goals 
related to type 1 diabetes.
  I am pleased to sponsor this resolution with the 101 other Members 
who are calling for research funding to find a cure for type 1 
diabetes. I want to thank all of my cosponsors, including both of my 
colleagues--the vice Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, 
Congresswoman Capps; and also Congressman Terry from Nebraska, who is 
also, like I said, a cosponsor of the resolution.
  Hopefully, our national health care plan will actually help those who 
have either type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes to make sure they can go 
see physicians when they need to.

                              {time}  1430

  Mr. TERRY. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, from my activities in the Diabetes 
Caucus, I have learned that, as I stated in the main statement, that 
education, nutrition, and exercise leads to prevention of much of type 
1 and type 2. Today is the sixth anniversary of the Medicare and 
Medicaid Reform Act that was passed in 2003 on a nearly partisan vote. 
It was then that we recognized that the Republicans, who authored that 
bill, supported that bill and that actually this is the first time that 
Medicare would pay for education, nutrition counseling.
  I thought it was very odd that under Medicare for a diabetic, that 
Medicare would pay for an amputation or kidney dialysis, but it 
wouldn't pay $150 to prevent those from happening by way of education, 
diabetic education classes, which included nutrition and exercise and 
such. We have come a long way in recognizing prevention.
  Certainly we don't need the government, through its history of not 
wanting to cover preventive care--I think we could do a better job 
within the private side or free enterprise side. We don't need 
government running health care to make sure that people that are in 
need of diabetes education, nutrition, a dietician, exercise, 
counseling, could receive that.
  I again want to thank Gene Green for bringing this much-needed 
resolution. Once again, I rise in support of this resolution.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
support of House Resolution 35 to express the sense of the House of 
Representatives that Congress should provide increased federal funding 
for continued type 1 diabetes research.
  This legislation is particularly timely as roughly 3 million people 
suffer from type 1 diabetes across the country. It is important for us 
to move forward in the fight against this disease and increase funding 
for research that aims to prevent and treat diabetes. It is estimated 
that over $4 billion will be necessary to fund the National Institute 
of Health's research goals for type 1 diabetes through 2013, and as 
this disease continues to affect millions of people across America, it 
is imperative that we fund research at increased levels to see its end.
  I would also like to mention one of the efforts that we are 
undertaking in North Texas to help combat diabetes. Recently the Baylor 
Health Care System announced that it would be transforming the Juanita 
J. Craft Recreation Center in south Dallas to the area's first and only 
diabetes health and wellness institute. This center will help to save 
lives by offering improved diabetes care, educational programs, and 
conducting research in addition to encouraging healthy lifestyles for 
those living with the disease. The center will also educate the 
community on preventative measures for type 2 diabetes so that a 
preventative lifestyle becomes a natural and normal part of everyday 
life in this neighborhood. It is my hope that increased funding for 
diabetes research will encourage similar centers to be created across 
the country.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my fellow colleagues to join me in 
supporting this important resolution so that we recognize the need for 
diabetes research funding and help countless people across the country 
living with the disease.
  Mr. TERRY. I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  Mrs. CAPPS. I have no remaining speakers on this side, and I also 
urge our colleagues to support this resolution.
  I yield back the balance of our time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Cuellar). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 35.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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