Speaking with JDRF children and families has such a positive impact on me and my colleagues. As Co-Chair of the House Congressional Diabetes Caucus I have consistently worked alongside Congresswoman DeGette (D-CO) to ensure funding for diabetes research continues. Hearing all of the stories that children, just like you, have to tell about life with diabetes is a great inspiration not only for me but for ALL children living with this disease.
This year celebrates the 10th year JDRF has hosted Children's Congress and what an exciting time it is! As we continue to work towards a cure, know that the impact you make with your stories is equally as important. You have such a powerful tool in your passion and dedication for a cure. Thank you for all that you do. Keep up the great work!
To learn more about Congressman Castle, please visit his website at www.castle.house.gov.
Year after year, I am impressed with the ability of all Children's Congress delegates to tell their stories and continue their work towards a cure for diabetes. The message you bring and the story you tell has an impact that lasts much longer than your time spent here.
As Co-Chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus, I know first-hand the burden this disease places on those affected and their families. I have worked along-side my Co-Chair, Congressman Mike Castle (R-DE), to ensure that diabetes research continues. We work tirelessly for this cause, but your efforts and support make all the difference. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of advocates just like yourselves, I am pleased that the Special Diabetes Program was reauthorized through 2011. This program supports critical research that is getting us closer to a cure for this disease and its complications. Working together, our efforts translate into REAL progress.
Congress will continue to not only work towards our goal of finding a cure for this disease, but we will also support research that will put us on a path towards that goal. President Obama's recent executive order reversing former President Bush's restrictions on embryonic stem cell research gives hope to millions of patients and their families that a cure is one step closer. As the chief architect of legislation passed twice by Congress, I am committed to ensuring that we continue pursuing a course that will make cutting-edge research a reality.
Keep up the good work.
U.S. Rep. DeGette is Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and Co-Chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus. To learn more, please visit: www.house.gov/degette .
As Co-Chair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, I am always amazed at the strength shown by those living with diabetes. Your stories really bring home the impact that research is having on your daily lives and why we must fight to ensure research funding continues.
Since JDRF Children’s Congress started 10 years ago, we have made great advancements in diabetes research and technology. With recent stem cell developments and progress being made towards an Artificial Pancreas, there is much to celebrate. But our work—your work—is not finished! By sharing your stories, you show that although daily management is critical, it’s not a cure and a cure is what we are all working toward.
Thank you for your tireless work. Your efforts serve to motivate us all!
To learn more about Sen. Lincoln, please visit her website at www.lincoln.senate.gov
As JDRF celebrates its 10th year of hosting Children’s Congress I am honored to have the privilege to serve as Co-Chair for this year's Children’s Congress Hearing. As Chair of the Children’s Congress Hearing in 2001, 2003, 2005 and Co-Chair in 2007, I have witnessed the positive impact that delegates and their families sharing their stories has on everyone working towards a cure for this disease.
Diabetes is a life-long condition that affects people of every age, race, and nationality. Its complications are daunting and cost those living with the disease almost double what it would cost them if they didn’t have diabetes. As Founder and Co-Chair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus I have learned a lot about diabetes and the difficulties and heartbreak that it causes for so many American families as they wait for a cure.
Meeting more and more people like you whose lives have been forever changed by diabetes motivates myself and others to continue in our work towards a cure. You are the true champions!
Dear Delegates and Parents,
Welcome to Children's Congress 2009. I am honored and excited to be chairing the sixth Children's Congress with my 16-year-old son, Albert. It has been a decade since a little boy named Tommy Solo came up with the idea for this event while listening to a group of adults prepare for a meeting with their Members of Congress. He very astutely believed then that Congress should hear from the kids directly about living with type 1 diabetes and why it was important that a cure be found. In the 10 years since then, Children's Congress has provided the opportunity for hundreds of children and their parents to take the message of finding a cure to Capitol Hill.
Children's Congress is an important gathering for those affected by type 1 diabetes. Here, we as parents and children can more clearly appreciate and understand the importance of advocating for a cure and the critical role our government must play in helping us reach our goal of finding a cure faster.
As Albert stated in his blog, it is important that we work with our Members of Congress, to inform them about the importance of finding a cure. Albert and I found visiting with our Members of Congress to be a very powerful and enabling experience. Who better than those who experience life with diabetes every day to go to Washington and make the very compelling case for the necessity for a cure? The passion we all feel about this issue only builds when given the amazing opportunity to make our case to the lawmakers in Washington. Trust me when I tell you that when we all speak with one voice, they will listen!
A perfect example of the results that working together can bring about is our recent success in having a legislative provision known as the Special Diabetes Program extended. Since December of 2006, Congress has allotted a total of $450 million to the NIH for research specific to type 1 diabetes.
I sincerely look forward to working with each of you over the next several months as we prepare to take our message of a CURE to Capitol Hill! If you have a question or need additional information about anything, just leave me a comment and I will get back to you! I look forward to meeting everyone of you.
Thanks!
Cynthia Ford
Hey Everyone!
My name is Albert and I am from Detroit, Michigan. I will be chairing Children’s Congress 2009 with my mother, Cynthia. I wanted to first and foremost welcome you to our website. Here you can find useful information that can help us to interact through forums and blog comments. So, if you have any questions or comments, please be sure to leave them.
When I first came to Children’s Congress in 2005 I was anxious about meeting 150 other kids whom I had never met before. But as I quickly found out, it became easier for all of us to get to know one another because we all shared something in common: type 1 diabetes. All of us were gathered in our nation’s capital to talk to our elected officials about bringing us closer to a cure. It was definitely exciting to be in Washington with kids and parents who were there for the same reasons my mother and I were.
Meeting with our Members of Congress is important because it gives us a chance to tell them about our disease. In the past when I have met with my Members from Michigan I have discussed and explained to them the number of people this disease affects. I have told them that without government funding, the amount of work and research put towards finding a cure for diabetes could be severely limited. I have told them my story as you all will tell yours when you see them this summer. It is important that you explain to them how diabetes plays a role in everything we do, from playing sports to counting carbs while we’re eating. We have waited long enough and it is time to take action against this disease.
I think that Children’s Congress is a great way for us to tell our representatives and senators first-hand how important it is to find a cure. Please make the most of your Children’s Congress experience – stay in touch with me and other delegates across the country as we prepare for our trip to D.C. in June. I look forward to getting to know all of you. If you have any questions or comments or just want to start a discussion, don’t hesitate to post on the blog.
Welcome!
Albert Ford
We wanted to say hello to you and let you know that we are looking forward to working with you and your families over the next several months as we prepare for your arrival in Washington, D.C. this June!
We hope we can make Children’s Congress 2009 a memorable experience for you! Over the next few weeks you will be receiving information that will help you interact with us and most important of all, with each other. Please be on the look-out for information regarding your access to the 'For Delegates' section and other online properties for CC2009.
We encourage you to read our blog postings often. Here you will find important information such as upcoming deadlines, actions you need to take and updates on Children’s Congress planning. If you have any questions or need additional information please send an email to childrenscongress@jdrf.org.
DEADLINE: CC2009 Confirmation Form and CC2009 Delegate Questionnaire are due Friday, January 16.
Talk to you soon,
Hasan Shah
CC2009 Staff
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As I sit here in the comforts of my own home and reflect back on Children's Congress 2007, only positive memories come to mind. As Mr. John Brady, a member of the JDRF International Board of Directors, said, I really feel like I received more than I gave. CC 2007 has been an amazing experience that has benefited me in more ways than one. I guess I am now a "certified" blogger; I have made new relationships with people I never thought I would, and I have re-built relationships that I know will last forever. Children's Congress was a success on a personal level for me, but it also helped us get closer and closer to our goal; a cure for type 1 diabetes.