Children’s Congress Rocks Capitol Hill

Ray and Walker Allen main shot

The nation’s attention was honed on JDRF yesterday as delegates and advocates took the microphone at the pinnacle event of Children’s Congress—the Senate Diabetes Hearing.

Minutes before the hearing, JDRF delegates met and had some encouraging words from United States Vice President Joe Biden (pictured below).

Joe Biden CC group shot

 

Led by Senator Bill Nelson (FL), chair of the Special Committee on Aging, and attended by Senator Susan Collins (ME), co-chair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, the hearing took place in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill at 2:00 p.m.

Testimony was provided by Children’s Congress delegate Quinn Ferguson (14, of Maine), JDRF President and CEO Jeffrey Brewer, NIDDK Director Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D., and two JDRF celebrity advocates: NBA Champion Ray Allen (pictured, top, with his son, delegate Walker Allen, six), and Emmy-winning actress Jean Smart, who lives with type 1 diabetes (pictured below, far left).

Jean Smart testimony_1

Check out the national media coverage of the event, below.

Morning Joe: Segment with Ray Allen aired Tuesday, July 9

Huffington Post Live

ESPN Mike and Mike in the Morning

The Grio

NBC Sports

NBC Sports

CNBC

Washington Post

Sports Illustrated Kids

Politico

McClatchy News Service

Miami Herald

Huffington Post

Complete Coverage: JDRF 2013 Children’s Congress

Children’s Congress Delegate Blog

We invited five delegates to write a very special series—the very first Children’s Congress Delegate Blog! In the weeks leading up to their trip to Washington, D.C., these delegates gave us their thoughts on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happy glucose control. But most importantly, they let us know just what it means to them to be delegates of Children’s Congress 2013. Read on.

Jonathan Platt — 9 years old, California
Children’s Congress 2013 Chair Kid

Bring On Children’s Congress!

Delegate Do’s and Don’ts: How to Make the Most of Children’s Congress

Catrina Curtis — 15 years old, Mississippi

My Sweet Sixteen on Capitol Hill

My Friend, My Inspiration

Amelia Rehrman  11 years old, Pennsylvania

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

Capitol Hill Essentials

Reed Gialketsis — 17 years old, Nevada

A Numbers Game, or: We Are All Number One

Word to the Wise: A T1D Slang Dictionary

Cindy Chen — 17 years old, California

Life Under the Microscope: My Summer as a Research Intern

Letters From the Cusp of Childhood/Adulthood

The Delegates Are Coming!

MONDAY, JULY 8

An Opening Refrain Filled With Promise

Children’s Congress Photo Gallery: Monday

TUESDAY, JULY 9

The Role of a Lifetime

Partners Working Toward a Cure

Children’s Congress Photo Gallery: Tuesday

WEDNESDAY, JULY 10

Many Happy Returns

Children’s Congress Rocks Capitol Hill

Young Diabetes Advocates Take Capitol Hill by Storm

Children’s Congress Photo Gallery: Wednesday