H. Res. 325
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
November 16, 1999.
Whereas diabetes is a devastating, lifelong condition that af-
fects people of every age, race, income level, and nation-
ality;
Whereas diabetes is a serious disease that has a devastating
impact, in both human and economic terms, on Ameri-
cans of all ages;
Whereas an estimated 16 million Americans suffer from dia-
betes, and millions more are at greater risk for diabetes;
Whereas the number of Americans with diabetes has in-
creased nearly 700 percent in the last 40 years, leading
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 esti-
mated 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;
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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 esti-
mated 5.4 million Americans have the disease but do not
know it;
Whereas diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, blind-
ness in adults, and amputations;
Whereas diabetes is a major risk factor for heart disease,
stroke, and birth defects and shortens average life expect-
ancy 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;
Whereas Hispanic, African, Asian, and Native Americans suf-
fer 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 dia-
betes 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 de-
veloping new methods for treatment and prevention;
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Whereas improvements in technology and the general growth
in scientific knowledge have created unprecedented oppor-
tunities for advances that might lead to better treat-
ments, prevention, and ultimately a cure;
Whereas after extensive review and deliberations, the Diabe-
tes 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 devel-
oped a comprehensive plan for diabetes research funded
by the National Institutes of Health and has rec-
ommended 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 posi-
tions to help raise public awareness about the need for
increased funding for research and for early diagnosis
and treatment: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Represent-
atives that—
(1) the Federal Government has a responsibility—
(A) to continue to increase research funding,
as recommended by the Diabetes Research Working
Group, so that the causes of, and improved treat-
ment and cure for, diabetes may be discovered;
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(B) to endeavor to raise awareness about the
importance of the early detection and proper treat-
ment of diabetes; and
(C) to continue to consider ways to improve ac-
cess to, and the quality of, health care services for
diagnosing and treating diabetes;
(2) all Americans should take an active role in
fighting diabetes by using all the means available to
them, including watching for the symptoms of diabetes,
such as frequent urination, unusual thirst, extreme hun-
ger, unusual weight loss, extreme fatigue, and irrita-
bility; and
(3) national and community organizations and
health care providers should endeavor to promote aware-
ness of diabetes and its complications and should en-
courage early detection of diabetes through regular
screenings, education, and by providing information,
support, and access to services.
Attest:
Clerk.