- By Office of Congressman Tom Reed
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Washington, DC – Congressional Diabetes Caucus Co-Chairs Tom Reed (R-NY) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) led several colleagues in sending a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi urging the immediate reauthorization of the Special Diabetes Program.
Set to expire on September 30th, the SDP provides federal funding for diabetes research and prevention and management programs for high-risk populations. It enjoys broad, bipartisan support.
"More than 30 million Americans have diabetes, and an additional 84 million have prediabetes," the letter said. "It is critical that we invest in the research that will lead us to a cure for type 1 diabetes and in the programs that help prevent and manage diabetes in the populations that are most impacted by the disease."
The reauthorization of the SDP will facilitate the extension of many initiatives under its umbrella, such as research for a cure to type 1 diabetes currently being carried out by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and disease management programs for American Indians and Alaska Natives, the population with the highest prevalence of diabetes in the country.
Caucus vice-chairs Susan Brooks (R-IN), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) and Raul Ruiz (D-CA) joined DeGette and Reed in signing the letter.
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