IV

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 325

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the

importance of increased support and funding to combat diabetes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

OCTOBER 7, 1999

Mr. LAFALCE (for himself, Mr. NETHERCUTT, Ms. DEGETTE, and Mr.

WELDON of Pennsylvania) submitted the following resolution; which was

referred to the Committee on Commerce

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the importance of increased support and funding

to combat diabetes.

Whereas diabetes is a devastating, lifelong condition that affects people of every age, race, income level, and nationality;

Whereas diabetes is a serious disease that has a devastating

impact, in both human and economic terms, on Americans of all ages;

Whereas an estimated 16 million Americans suffer from diabetes, and millions more are at greater risk for diabetes;

Whereas the number of Americans with diabetes has increased nearly 700 percent in the last 40 years, leading
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the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to call it

the ‘‘epidemic of our time’’;

Whereas approximately 800,000 people will be diagnosed with

diabetes in 1999, and diabetes will contribute to an estimated 198,000 deaths this year, making diabetes the

sixth leading cause of death;

Whereas diabetes costs our Nation an estimated $105 billion

each year;

Whereas more than 1 out of every 10 health care dollars in

the United States and about 1 out of every 4 medicare

dollars is spent on the care of people with diabetes;

Whereas more than $40 billion a year in tax dollars are spent

treating people with diabetes through medicare, medicaid,

veterans care, Federal employee health benefits, and

other Federal health programs;

Whereas diabetes frequently goes undiagnosed and an estimated 5.4 million Americans have the disease but do not

know it;

Whereas diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, blindness in adults, and amputations;

Whereas diabetes is a major risk factor for heart disease,

stroke, and birth defects and shortens average life expectancy by up to 15 years;

Whereas 800,000 Americans have type one diabetes, formerly

known as juvenile diabetes, and 15.2 million have type

two diabetes, formerly known as adult onset diabetes;

Whereas 18.4 percent of Americans age 65 years or older

have diabetes and 8.2 percent of Americans age 20 years

or older have diabetes;
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Whereas Hispanic, African, Asian, and Native Americans suffer from diabetes at rates much higher than the general

population, including children as young as eight years old

who are now being diagnosed with type two diabetes;

Whereas there is currently no method to prevent or cure diabetes and available treatments have only limited success

in controlling its devastating consequences;

Whereas reducing the tremendous health and human burden

of diabetes and its enormous economic toll depends on

identifying the factors responsible for the disease and developing new methods for treatment and prevention;

Whereas improvements in technology and the general growth

in scientific knowledge have created unprecedented opportunities for advances that might lead to better treatments, prevention, and ultimately a cure;

Whereas after extensive review and deliberations, the Diabetes Research Working Group—established by Congress

and selected by the National Institutes of Health—has

found that ‘‘many scientific opportunities are not being

pursued due to insufficient funding, lack of appropriate

mechanisms, and a shortage or trained researchers’’;

Whereas the Diabetes Research Working Group has developed a comprehensive plan for diabetes research funded

by the National Institutes of Health and has recommended a funding level of $827 million for diabetes

research at the National Institutes of Health in fiscal

year 2000; and

Whereas the House of Representatives as an institution and

Members of Congress as individuals are in unique positions to help raise public awareness about the need for
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increased funding for research and for early diagnosis

and treatment: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that—

3 (1) the Federal Government has a

4 responsibility—

5 (A) to continue to increase research fund6 ing, as recommended by the Diabetes Research

7 Working Group, so that the causes of, and im8 proved treatment and cure for, diabetes may be

9 discovered;

10 (B) to endeavor to raise awareness about

11 the importance of the early detection and prop12 er treatment of diabetes; and

13 (C) to continue to consider ways to im14 prove access to, and the quality of, health care

15 services for diagnosing and treating diabetes;

16 (2) all Americans should take an active role in

17 fighting diabetes by using all the means available to

18 them, including watching for the symptoms of diabe19 tes, such as frequent urination, unusual thirst, ex20 treme hunger, unusual weight loss, extreme fatigue,

21 and irritability; and

22 (3) national and community organizations and

23 health care providers should endeavor to promote

24 awareness of diabetes and its complications and
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1 should encourage early detection of diabetes through

2 regular screenings, education, and by providing in3 formation, support, and access to services.

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