More than 40 American Diabetes Association Current and Past Presidents Demand Congress Renew Special Diabetes Program Funding
Arlington, District of Columbia
January 24, 2018
Delay in reauthorizing critical diabetes research and prevention programs puts millions of Americans at risk
In a letter to congressional leadership, more than 40 current and past presidents of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) came together to demand that Congress renew funding for the Special Diabetes Program (SDP). The group includes renowned diabetes experts, researchers, physicians and educators from across the country who wrote on behalf of more than 114 million Americans living with, or at risk for, diabetes.
The presidents, joined by ADA’s Chief Scientific, Medical and Mission Officer William T. Cefalu, MD, highlighted that SDP has unprecedented bipartisan support, with 356 Members of the House of Representatives and 75 Senators signing letters supporting reauthorization in 2016. SDP has proven results, including improved treatments and tangible progress toward a cure for type 1 diabetes, as well as vastly improved health outcomes among American Indian populations, which are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes than any other racial or ethnic population in the United States. However, Congress has failed to pass a long-term renewal of this successful, effective initiative, which is currently set to expire on March 31, 2018.
ADA leaders called on Congress to provide SDP with sustained, long-term funding because shorter renewals make it difficult for the National Institute of Health’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to invest in the most promising diabetes research proposals and for prevention and management programs in American Indian communities to retain staff to implement and lead these initiatives. They urged policymakers to work immediately towards a bipartisan solution that reauthorizes and provides long-term funding for SDP.
The full text of the letter can be found below.
Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, Speaker Ryan, and Leader Pelosi:
We, the undersigned past and current presidents of the American Diabetes Association and ADA’s Chief Scientific, Medical & Mission Officer, are deeply troubled that Congress has failed to extend funding for the Special Diabetes Program (SDP). One hundred fourteen million Americans are living with or at risk for diabetes, and it is unacceptable that Congress has neglected to pass a long-term reauthorization of a successful, effective, bipartisan initiative. We implore you to add long-term reauthorization of SDP to the next federal funding measure considered by Congress.
SDP includes the Special Statutory Program for Type 1 Diabetes Research (SDP-Type 1) at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI). Both components of SDP have unprecedented bipartisan support—in 2016, 356 House Members and 75 Senators signed letters endorsing the reauthorization of SDP. SDP has proven results, including better treatments and tangible progress toward a cure for type 1 diabetes and vastly improved health outcomes in American Indian populations, which are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes than any other racial or ethnic population in the United States. These programs should have been reauthorized at a minimum of the current level of $150 million per program per year before the end of fiscal year 2017, but were only temporarily extended until March 31, 2018 as part of the December continuing resolution. Short-term funding extensions make it difficult for SDP-funded programs to retain staff and for NIDDK to invest in the most promising research proposals. A long-term investment in SDP would maximize the potential of these federal dollars.
Critical research towards a cure for type 1 diabetes and programs for American Indians and Alaska Natives are in jeopardy the longer SDP renewal is delayed. We ask Congress to come to an immediate bipartisan agreement on SDP reauthorization as part of the next federal funding measure.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact Meghan Riley, Vice President, Federal Government Affairs.
Sincerely,
William T. Cefalu, MD; Chief Scientific, Medical & Mission Officer
Louis Philipson, MD, PhD, FACP; President-Elect, Medicine & Science; 2019
Gretchen Youssef, MS, RD, CDE; President-Elect, Health Care and Education; 2019
Jane Reusch, MD; President, Medicine & Science; 2018
Felicia Hill-Briggs, PhD, ABPP; President, Health Care & Education; 2018
Alvin C. Powers, MD; President, Medicine & Science; 2017
Brenda Montgomery, RN, MSHS, CDE; President, Health Care & Education; 2017
Desmond Schatz MD; President, Medicine & Science; 2016
Maggie Powers, PhD, RD, CDE; President, Health Care & Education; 2016
Sam Dagogo-Jack, MD; President, Medicine & Science; 2015
Elizabeth R. Seaquist MD; President, Medicine & Science; 2014
Vivian Fonseca, MD; President, Medicine & Science; 2012
Geralyn Spollett, MSN, ANP-BC, CDE; President, Health Care & Education; 2012
Robert R. Henry, MD; President, Medicine & Science; 2011
Elizabeth J. Mayer-Davis, PhD; President, Health Care & Education; 2011
Richard M. Bergenstal, MD; President, Medicine & Science; 2010
R. Paul Robertson, MD; President, Medicine & Science; 2009
Sue McLaughlin, MOL, RD, CDE; President, Healthcare and Education; 2009
John B. Buse, MD, PhD; President, Health Care & Education; 2008
Karmeen Kulkarni, MS, RD, BC-ADM, CDE; President, Health Care & Education; 2006
Alan D. Cherrington, PhD; President, Medicine & Science; 2005
Carolé R. Mensing, RN, MA, CDE; President, Health Care & Education; 2005
Eugene J Barrett, MD PhD; President, Medicine & Science; 2004
Francine R. Kaufman, MD; President, Medicine & Science; 2003
Anne Daly, MS, RDN, BC-ADM, CDE; President, Health Care & Education; 2002
Robert S. Sherwin, MD; President, Medicine & Science; 2001
Lee J. Sanders, DPM; President, Health Care & Education; 2001
Elizabeth A. Walker, PhD, RN, CDE; President, Health Care & Education; 2000
Gerald Bernstein, MD, FACP; President, Medicine & Science; 1999
Mayer B. Davidson, MD; President, Medicine & Science; 1998
Christine A. Beebe, MS, RD, CDE; President, Health Care & Education; 1998
Belinda Childs, APRN, BC-ADM, CDE; President, Health Care & Education; 1997
Davida F. Kruger, MSN, APN-BC, BC-ADM; President, Health Care & Education; 1996
Kathleen L. Wishner, PhD, MD; President, Medicine & Science; 1995
Linda M. Siminerio, RN, PhD, CDE; President, Health Care & Education; 1995
James R. Gavin III, MD, PhD; President, Medicine & Science; 1994
F. Xavier Pi-Sunyer, MD, MPH; President, Medicine & Science; 1993
Jay S. Skyler, MD; President, Medicine & Science; 1992
Edward S. Horton, MD; President, Medicine & Science; 1991
John A. Colwell, MD, PhD; President, Medicine & Science; 1988
Daniel Porte; President, Medicine & Science; 1987
Ronald Arky, MD; President, Medicine & Science; 1980
cc: Senator Orrin Hatch, Chairman, Senate Finance Committee
Senator Ron Wyden, Ranking Member, Senate Finance Committee
Senator Lamar Alexander, Chairman, Senate HELP Committee
Senator Patty Murray, Ranking Member, Senate HELP Committee
Senator Susan Collins, Co-Chair, Senate Diabetes Caucus
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Co-Chair, Senate Diabetes Caucus
Congressman Kevin Brady, Chairman, House Committee on Ways and Means
Congressman Richard Neal, Ranking Member, House Committee on Ways and Means
Congressman Greg Walden, Chairman, House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Congressman Frank Pallone, Ranking Member, House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Congressman Tom Reed, Co-Chair, Congressional Diabetes Caucus
Congresswoman Dianna DeGette, Co-Chair, Congressional Diabetes Caucus
About the American Diabetes Association
Nearly half of American adults have diabetes or prediabetes; more than 30 million adults and children have diabetes; and every 21 seconds, another individual is diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. Founded in 1940, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization whose mission is to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. The ADA drives discovery by funding research to treat, manage and prevent all types of diabetes, as well as to search for cures; raises voice to the urgency of the diabetes epidemic; and works to safeguard policies and programs that protect people with diabetes. In addition, the ADA supports people living with diabetes, those at risk of developing diabetes, and the health care professionals who serve them through information and programs that can improve health outcomes and quality of life. For more information, please call the ADA at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both of these sources is available in English and Spanish. Find us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn)
