GEDI Act

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. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5354. I worked on this bill with Mr. Engel. This bill has gone through regular order and passed the Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously, and I thank all of the staff involved, from the personal staff levels of Mr. Engel's office and mine, and the committee staff for their hard work on the bill before us today.

As an obstetrician, I have witnessed the effect of gestational diabetes on both mother and child. Gestational diabetes is a growing problem, and we really don't know why. Unlike type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes has a very different issue, requiring a unique approach.

Gestational diabetes affects between 2 and 5 percent of pregnant women, about 135,000 cases in the United States each year, and usually occurs late in pregnancy. If left untreated, gestational diabetes can have a significant impact on both mother and child. Women and children affected by gestational diabetes are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and it is associated with additional health problems for both mother and child during both pregnancy and childbirth.

In addition, once a mother contracts gestational diabetes, her chances are 2 in 3 that it may return in future pregnancies. That is why this act, the Gestational Diabetes Act of 2009, is a vital investment in our future. This bill will allow for the collection of data and the study of risk factors, as well as continued postpartum evaluations, with the goal of developing proven intervention strategies that will lower the rates of gestational diabetes.

For example, maternal obesity is an independent and more important risk factor for large infants and women with gestational diabetes than it is with simple glucose intolerance.

This legislation has the support of many groups, including the American Diabetes Association, the American Association of Diabetes Educators, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

There is currently an insufficient system for monitoring cases of gestational diabetes to uncover trends and target at-risk populations.

This legislation will go beyond what we do know and promote public health research to understand the epidemiological, socioenvironmental, behavioral, translation, and biomedical factors that influence the risk of gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Current treatments are primarily focused on diet and exercise, but there is general disagreement about the degree to which each should be recommended and the overall effectiveness of this approach. There needs to be greater understanding by both providers and patients on how to prevent and treat this condition. New therapies and interventions to detect, treat and slow the incidence of gestational diabetes need to be identified. Through targeted research we will be able to identify triggers that result in gestational diabetes in women with no previous risk factors. Given the tremendous impact for this disease, I urge support of the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, seeing no further speakers on my time, I will just say the increased incidence in the United States has raised the prevalence, but the risk of gestational diabetes can also be due to genetics, ethnicity, and maternal age. The rates of gestational diabetes are higher among women of African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American descent. In addition, there is currently an insufficient system for monitoring cases of gestational diabetes, which this legislation will begin to correct.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1690) supporting the

observance of American Diabetes Month, as amended.

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.

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. 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.

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. Speaker, I now yield 2 minutes to a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Space).

Mr. Speaker, I now yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott).

I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

the disease and its complications. Those with histories of diabetes in their families must be especially vigilant.

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. 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).

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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.

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.

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.