National Clinical Care Commission Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate World Diabetes Day and to urge the passage of the National Diabetes Clinical Care Commission Act (H.R. 1192), which would authorize a committee of experts to improve care for people with diabetes and associated conditions. I'd like to thank the original co-sponsors of the bill, Mr.
Olson and Mr. Loebsack, as well as Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Pallone, for all your hard work in making sure this important legislation gets the attention it deserves.
World Diabetes Day helps raise awareness of the scope of this disease. In that spirit, I'd like to note for all our colleagues that the human and economic impact of diabetes in the United States is mammoth. More than 29 million people in the United States from all walks of life have diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control estimates as many as 86 million Americans have pre-diabetes.
This disease is a life-long reality that patients and their families must grapple with every day. As the mother of a child with type 1 diabetes, I know the toll it can take. But I'm also in awe of the bravery and strength exhibited by people who live with diabetes. For them, we must continue to support innovative and thoughtful solutions that address awareness, prevention and cures.
For health care problems of this magnitude, coordination is essential. Increased communication and planning between the many different federal agencies working to prevent and treat diabetes will make a difference for patients and help us spend taxpayer dollars in a more cost-effective way. The National Clinical Care Commission Act would help jump-start these efforts by facilitating dialogue and coordination between leaders in the federal government and experts from the field. The Commission would be tasked with reviewing the many different ways the government currently spends money on diabetes and coming up with a strategic plan on how to move forward effectively and efficiently.
I have no doubt that the House will pass H.R. 1192 today. I encourage the Senate to vote on this commonsense bill as soon as possible. Thank you.
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