[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    GESTATIONAL DIABETES ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 28, 2010

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here today as the sponsor 
of the Gestational Diabetes Act and urge my colleagues to support this 
important bipartisan legislation.
  I would like to thank my colleague and an original sponsor of the 
legislation, Dr. Burgess and his staff member, James Paluskiewicz for 
their efforts on behalf of this legislation. I would also like to thank 
the Committee staff who worked tirelessly to bring this bill to the 
floor today. Specifically, I would like to acknowledge Anne Morris of 
the Energy and Commerce Committee and Emily Gibbons of the Health 
subcommittee who is also a former member of my staff.
  Madam Speaker, every single year 135,000 women in the United States 
are diagnosed with gestational diabetes. And, while gestational 
diabetes generally goes away after pregnancy, it can have significant 
health impacts upon both the mother and baby. In particular, women are 
at much higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in the future, and 
their children are at higher risk of obesity and/or the onset of Type 2 
diabetes as adults.
  This is why I introduced the GEDI Act. This bill aims to lower the 
incidence of gestational diabetes and prevent women afflicted with this 
condition and their children from developing Type 2 diabetes.
  We need to have a greater understanding on how to prevent and treat 
this condition. There is currently an insufficient system for 
monitoring cases of gestational diabetes to uncover trends and target 
at risk populations. In addition, new therapies and interventions to 
detect, treat and slow the disease need to be identified. The GEDI Act 
will help us accomplish those goals.
  This legislation is supported by the American Diabetes Association, 
the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, American Association 
of Diabetes Educators, the American Congress of Obstetricians and 
Gynecologists, the American Medical Women's Association, the 
Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, the 
International Community Health Services, and the Society for Women's 
Health Research.
  The statistics surrounding diabetes are staggering, but we must 
always remember there is a human face behind every number, with far too 
many of them being pregnant women and their children.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this important 
legislation.

                          ____________________