[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 154 (Tuesday, November 30, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7716-H7720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING AMERICAN DIABETES MONTH
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1690) supporting the
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observance of American Diabetes Month, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1690
Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), there are nearly 24,000,000 Americans with
diabetes and 57,000,000 with prediabetes;
Whereas diabetes is a serious chronic condition that
affects people of every age, race and ethnicity, and income
level;
Whereas the CDC reports that Hispanic-, African-, Asian-,
and Native Americans are disproportionately affected by
diabetes and suffer at rates higher than the general
population;
Whereas, according to the CDC, every minute 3 people are
diagnosed with diabetes, approximately 4,384 people each day;
Whereas, according to the CDC, approximately 1,600,000 new
cases of diabetes were diagnosed last year in people 20 years
or older;
Whereas a joint CDC and National Institutes of Health study
found that 15,000 youth in the United States are diagnosed
with type 1 diabetes annually and about 3,700 youth are
diagnosed with type 2 diabetes annually;
Whereas, according to the CDC, between 1980 and 2007,
diabetes prevalence in the United States increased by more
than 300 percent;
Whereas the CDC reports that over 24 percent of diabetes is
undiagnosed, down from 30 percent in 2005;
Whereas, according to the CDC National Diabetes Fact Sheet,
over 10 percent of American adults and nearly a quarter (23.1
percent) of Americans age 60 and older have diabetes;
Whereas, according to the CDC, one in three Americans born
in the year 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime;
this statistic grows to nearly one in two for minority
populations;
Whereas, according to the American Diabetes Association, in
2007, the total cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United
States was $174,000,000,000, and one in ten dollars spent on
health care is attributed to diabetes and its complications;
Whereas, according to a Mathematica Policy study, total
expenditures for Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes
comprise 32.7 percent of the Medicare budget;
Whereas, according to the CDC, every day 230 people with
diabetes undergo an amputation, 120 people enter end-stage
kidney disease programs, and 55 people go blind from
diabetes;
Whereas, according to the CDC, diabetes was the seventh
leading cause of death in 2007, and contributed to the deaths
of over 230,000 Americans in 2005;
Whereas there is not yet a cure for diabetes;
Whereas there are proven means to reduce the incidence of
or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes;
Whereas people with diabetes live healthy, productive lives
with the proper management and treatment; and
Whereas November is widely recognized as American Diabetes
Month: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of American Diabetes
Month, including encouraging Americans to fight diabetes
through raising public awareness about stopping diabetes and
increasing education about the disease;
(2) recognizes the importance of early detection of
diabetes, awareness of the symptoms of diabetes, and
awareness of the risk factors for diabetes, which include
being over the age of 45, being a member of a specific racial
and ethnic background, being overweight, having a low
physical activity level, having high blood pressure, and
having a family history of diabetes or a history of diabetes
during pregnancy; and
(3) supports decreasing the prevalence of type 1, type 2,
and gestational diabetes in the United States through
increased research, treatment, and prevention.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Owens). Pursuant to the rule, the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Nebraska
(Mr. Terry) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
General Leave
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material in the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1690. Earlier this
year, the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing on our
collective battle against diabetes, the progress we have made so far
and the challenges that remain.
Over 30 years ago, Congress passed the National Diabetes Research and
Education Act, the first significant legislation directed at
coordinating and expanding the government's research and prevention
efforts related to diabetes. While we have made tremendous progress in
understanding and treating diabetes, it remains a significant public
health epidemic.
It's staggering to realize that over 23 million Americans have some
form of diabetes today and the number is growing. Even more troubling
is that 57 million Americans are at serious risk for developing type 2
diabetes, including women with gestational diabetes.
Until recently, kids were rarely diagnosed with anything but type 1
diabetes. But the increasing rate of childhood obesity is changing the
face of diabetes, and certainly not for the better. Furthermore,
diabetes is the leading cause of heart disease, stroke, blindness, and
kidney failure. As is often the case, diabetes disproportionately
affects racial and ethnic minorities. American Indians have the highest
prevalence of diabetes nationwide, and Hispanics and African Americans
are close behind.
Moreover, there is clear economic cost. It has been estimated that
over $220 billion in medical expenses in 2007 can be attributed to
diabetes. There are serious problems which need aggressive and
innovative action. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and
Kidney Diseases located at NIH and the Centers for Disease Control are
both doing landmark research and surveillance work related to diabetes
and have translated this into more effective prevention and treatment
strategies, including the development of key therapies and
technologies.
I want to commend the sponsor of this legislation, the gentlewoman
from Colorado (Ms. DeGette) not only for the work on this bill but for
all the work on the Energy and Commerce Committee and also as the
cochair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus. I know I'm a member of
it. It has well over 200 members, and it does a lot to raise awareness
and increase education about the disease.
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. TERRY. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Diabetes Caucus and a former vice
chair and member of a regional board that included Nebraska for the
American Diabetes Association before I came to the United States
Congress, I rise in support of House Resolution 1690 supporting the
observance of American Diabetes Month.
Diabetes touches nearly every life in this country. There are an
estimated 24 million Americans today afflicted with diabetes, and that
number is projected to double in the next 25 years. Diabetes is a group
of diseases characterized by high blood glucose. It results when the
body does not produce sufficient insulin or is unable to process
insulin, a hormone that is needed to convert sugars, starches, and
other food into needed energy for daily life.
Type 1 diabetes results from the body's failure to produce insulin,
which allows glucose to enter and fuel the cells of the body. The most
common form of type 1 diabetes is immune mediated diabetes, in which
the body's immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing
cells of the pancreas.
The common name for type 1 diabetes is juvenile diabetes. Even though
juvenile diabetes is typically diagnosed during childhood or
adolescence, it is a disease individuals must manage their entire
lives. Type 2 diabetes, sometimes known as adult onset diabetes,
results from the body's inability to make enough or properly use
insulin. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, and its
prevalence is rising every year. Approximately 57 million Americans are
thought to have pre-type 2 diabetes. The complications from both forms
of diabetes can be devastating and life altering, ranging from heart
disease, stroke, and blindness to kidney disease.
In the case of type 2 diabetes, people can take steps to avoid the
onset of the disease and mitigate its effects. Americans must
understand that their health and the health of their families are in
their hands. Balanced diets and increased physical activity can prevent
[[Page H7718]]
the disease and its complications. Those with histories of diabetes in
their families must be especially vigilant.
{time} 1810
I would like to thank the author of this resolution, the gentlewoman
from Denver, the Rocky Mountain State, Ms. DeGette, for her efforts to
improve awareness of this disease and supporting all of the education
efforts. She is very vigilant on this issue, as I know because we are
on the Energy and Commerce Committee together. The issue and why it is
so necessary to educate is to highlight the importance of early
detection. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to now yield such time as she
may consume to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette), who is the
author of the resolution and also the cochair of the Diabetes Caucus.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Pallone, the chairman
of my subcommittee, who does such wonderful work on these diabetes
issues, and also the gentleman from Nebraska. We have served for many,
many years together on the committee.
I am very pleased we are able to bring this resolution to the floor
while it is still, in fact, Diabetes Awareness Month, November, because
diabetes is one of the top public health threats in our country today.
About 70,000 people are thought to have died from underlying causes
of diabetes on an annual basis, with tens of thousands more deaths
related to the disease. The CDC estimates that right now about 81
million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes, and we know many more
will get it. With better research, we can determine how people lose
their lives to this disease, and we can both, we hope, find a cure for
the disease and also mitigate the losses.
As well as a terrible public health threat in this country, diabetes
is also an important economic issue, which is why the Diabetes Caucus
worked so hard to raise awareness in this body. Diabetes will cost this
Nation almost $3.4 trillion through 2020, according to a recent study
released by the United Health Group. One in every $10 in health care in
this country is attributed to diabetes and its complications, and
diabetes takes up more than 30 percent of our Medicare dollars.
What is more disturbing, Mr. Speaker, is that type 2 diabetes is
increasing to epidemic levels, and as previous speakers have mentioned,
threatens to take up an even bigger part of our budget in years to come
and will affect millions more Americans.
Families, like my family, see diabetes up close every day. We have
been touched just in my family by type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and
gestational diabetes. This is not uncommon in America, as more and more
families have experience with type 2 diabetes. Even though diabetes is
increasing so dramatically, though, because of the research that we
have done at the National Institutes of Health, at the CDC, and in the
States, the personal toll of diabetes is becoming more manageable as we
discover ways both to prevent type 2 diabetes and to treat and even
find cures for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Advancements in lifestyle
interventions, screening, and testing can save money and save even more
lives.
This year marked the 60th anniversary of the National Institute of
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, which is the leading
research organization at the NIH dedicated to tackling this devastating
disease. And so six decades later, we continue to find different ways
to approach this disease and help the millions of families that are
affected by it.
So this year, as we support the goals of National Diabetes Month,
let's also pass a bill separate from this bill that many of us have
cosponsored to fund a special diabetes program. As with all things,
this research must be paid for; but the cost of inaction, both
physically and economically, is too high.
Diabetes issues have consistently been addressed by this body with
interest and passion on both sides of the aisle, and we expect in the
112th Congress that this will continue. The Diabetes Caucus, which
several have mentioned, of which I am the cochair, is, in fact, the
largest caucus in Congress, with close to 250 members.
I want to take a moment just now because two of our great leaders in
this body on this issue are going to be leaving us at the end of this
session. Mike Castle, who has been an extraordinary cochair of the
Diabetes Caucus, is leaving, as well as Zack Space, a beloved member of
our committee, who is the vice chairman of the Diabetes Caucus. I
invite all Members to join this caucus. And also, if anyone is
interested in being a cochair, let me know, because it is important
work that we do.
In the spirit of the bipartisan commitment that all of us have made,
I think we need to come together and not just talk about how important
research is but actually commit ourselves in the next session of
Congress to working together on legislation. We can work together not
just on recognizing Diabetes Month, but also work together on the
Special Diabetes Program, which will help to save countless American
lives and to not leave this critical initiative on the to-do list again
another year.
Mr. TERRY. Mr. Speaker, the gentlelady from Colorado mentioned the
gentleman from Delaware who wanted to be here and speak on this
resolution, her cochair, Mike Castle, but he was called back to his
home since we don't have any more votes this evening.
At this time, I yield 2 minutes to the new gentleman to the House of
Representatives from the State of New York (Mr. Reed).
Mr. REED. I thank my colleague from Nebraska, and I thank you, Mr.
Speaker, for the opportunity to stand tonight and rise in support of H.
Res. 1690. I appreciate the opportunity to speak today in regard to
American Diabetes Month.
To me, it has been an honor and a privilege to be involved with many
diabetes advocacy groups over the years, particularly the Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation.
This issue is a personal issue with my family. My son, Will, who is
10 years old, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 4. I
personally will never forget the day, being rushed to the emergency
room, as I had to hold him down and look him in the eye, with tears in
his eyes, as he screamed in terror as to why, Daddy, are you holding me
and letting these doctors hurt me? And we were doing it for his best
interest because he had to be administered insulin to take care of his
diabetic situation. My wife and I have been living with this disease
for well over 6 years. I watch my wife every night get up at 2, 3, 4 in
the morning, testing his blood glucose levels to make sure that he is
properly monitored and that his diabetes is kept in check.
It is important to me today to stand up and recognize that there is
no cure at this point in time for juvenile diabetes or diabetes itself.
I hope in the near future and as a Member of this Chamber that that
cure will be found. But in the meantime, I join my colleagues in
expressing my concern for the 24 million children and adults in the
United States who are living with this disease, and the estimated 57
million Americans that are at risk.
Today, we must become aware of this disease and its symptoms to make
sure that everyone who suffers these symptoms of frequent urination,
unusual thirst, extreme hunger, unusual weight loss, extreme fatigue
and irritability check with their medical providers and make sure that
they are checked for diabetes, because it has life-threatening impacts
such as blindness, amputation, and kidney failure.
I am here today to stand in support of this measure, and I will do
whatever is in my power to raise awareness for diabetes and finding its
cure as my tenure here in this House so allows.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Engel), who is the sponsor of the Gestational Diabetes Act,
H.R. 5354, which passed the House earlier this year.
Mr. ENGEL. I thank my good friend from New Jersey, the chairman of
our subcommittee, who does an excellent job, for yielding to me, and I
rise today in support of H. Res. 1690, a resolution supporting the
observance of American Diabetes Month. As a member of the Congressional
Diabetes Caucus and a cosponsor of this resolution, I urge my
colleagues to vote in favor of H. Res. 1690.
[[Page H7719]]
My colleagues may be aware that one in every 10 Americans suffers
from diabetes. This is nearly 24 million people. Additionally,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are
57 million Americans with prediabetes.
{time} 1820
Even more troubling is that these staggering numbers will continue to
grow if we sit idle and do nothing. We must continue to raise awareness
and find new treatments and preventative measures.
In October, the CDC issued a report which states, if current trends
continue, as many as one in three American adults could have diabetes
by the year 2050. The report also states that the $174 billion
currently spent on diabetes will at least double by 2050. These are
costs that we cannot afford both financially and physically, and the
prospect of these statistics jumping from 1 in 10 to 1 in 3 is
frightening, but the good news is that it is also preventable.
That's why, as the chairman mentioned, I introduced the Gestational
Diabetes Act, or GeDi. The GeDi Act focuses research resources on
reducing the incidence of gestational diabetes, which is a condition
that can result in a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes during
pregnancy for both the mother and child.
The GeDi Act passed the House of Representatives in September. I call
upon our colleagues in the other body to pass my legislation in the
111th Congress so we can help turn the tide away from these dire
predictions.
While we cannot fight family history, genetic risk factors, or the
aging process, we can fight the causes of new cases of diabetes. We in
the House of Representatives have the ability and responsibility to
raise public awareness about the implications of diabetes and how to
prevent it. That is why I stand in strong support of H. Res. 1690.
Mr. TERRY. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I now yield 2 minutes to a member of the
Energy and Commerce Committee, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Space).
Mr. SPACE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Ms. DeGette, for
your leadership on this issue.
Mr. Speaker, I sympathize with the new Member from New York. He and
Ms. DeGette and I have something in common. We all have children who
suffer from type 1 diabetes. Although it is a family tragedy when it
happens--and we all have those stark memories of being told that your
child is going to be for the rest of his or her life dependent upon
insulin--and although it is life changing, it transcends. The issue of
diabetes transcends the personal tragedy that it inflicts on millions
of families, and we have heard the numbers by some of my colleagues
today.
The ADA, the American Diabetes Association, estimates now that north
of $200 billion a year is spent on diabetes in this country. That's
``billion'' with a ``B.'' Those are warlike numbers. The real tragedy
is we could avoid that. If we had any kind of foresight envisioned as a
Nation, we would invest in a cure. For a fraction of what we spend in
this country on diabetes every year, we could cure the disease. It's
within reach. This isn't cancer or some complicated disease of the
brain. This is an autoimmune disorder that affects the pancreas. We
already have the technology for the artificial pancreas. With a very
small fraction of what we spend on diabetes every year, we could give
every type 1 diabetic in America a closed-loop system--an insulin pump
and a glucose monitor--that, through technology, works like a pancreas.
We could save, not billions, but trillions of dollars over the next 30
to 40 years.
As parents of diabetics, we know what our children face. By the time
my son is my age, for example, he will be facing the prospect of
blindness, kidney disease, and amputation, and our government is going
to pay for it.
There is an alternative, and I urge this body in the 112th Congress
to strongly consider investing here. For every dollar you put in, you
will receive hundreds back. You will save lives, and you will advance
human life in ways that are difficult to even conceive of right now.
So, again, I want to thank my colleague from Colorado (Ms. DeGette)
for her tireless work, and I want to thank my chairman, Mr. Pallone,
for this time.
Mr. TERRY. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I now yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Scott).
Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Thank you very much.
Ladies and gentlemen of the House, with nearly 23 million children
and adults in the United States living with this disease, it is,
indeed, time to reassess our own fitness and nutrition choices, to
educate ourselves on the risk factors, and to then encourage everyone,
especially our loved ones, to get tested.
In my home State of Georgia, approximately 700,000 children and
adults, or 7.8 percent of Georgia's entire population, have been
diagnosed with diabetes. Raising awareness about the devastating
effects that diabetes can have on people and their families must not go
overlooked.
Many people do not realize that diabetes is the leading cause of
blindness among adults between the ages of 20 and 74 years old. It also
contributes to serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke,
and kidney failure. Nationwide, 23.6 million people, or 7.8 percent of
the Nation's entire population, have diabetes. Further, 17.9 million
people have been diagnosed, 5.7 million are undiagnosed, at least 57
million people are prediabetic in this country, and 220 million people
have diabetes worldwide. These are startling statistics, and the
numbers continue to rise. Sadly, thousands more are at an increased
risk of getting diabetes because of advancing age, obesity, sedentary
lifestyles, unhealthy eating habits, and insufficient physical
activity.
Diabetes not only affects the health of our Nation but our economic
well-being as well. In my State of Georgia, the cost of diabetes due to
medical care, lost productivity, and premature death is over $5.1
billion per year, with $356 million lost in my own congressional
district alone.
Early testing is crucial to saving lives and even to preventing the
onset of the disease in the first place. When diabetes is diagnosed in
later stages, the treatments are more extreme, more difficult, and
hospital visits are more frequent. Catching the disease in its early
stages helps patients mitigate the harmful effects early.
As a Member of Congress, I will do everything in my power, along with
all of my colleagues, to ensure that Americans are empowered to take
control of their health and to get tested.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. PALLONE. I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.
Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. I also want to continue to work with my
colleagues in Congress to address juvenile diabetes because it can be
prevented at an early stage with just testing, care, and increased
funding for additional research as the number of cases continues to
steadily increase.
Again, I am honored to observe November as American Diabetes Month,
and I am hopeful with an increased awareness of this devastating
disease that we can save more people from being diagnosed with
diabetes. We can lick this. There is a cure. All we have to do is put
it as the priority it needs to be, and we will save lives, millions of
lives.
I certainly appreciate and commend Mr. Pallone and the gentlelady
from Colorado (Ms. DeGette) for authoring this important resolution.
Mr. TERRY. I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the legislation, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1690, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. TERRY. 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.
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The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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