The theme of our hearing was hope - hope that one day a cure would be found for a disease that so many in this room shared, either personally or through their families. That disease is juvenile diabetes, also known as Type I diabetes.
As founder and co-chair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, I held this hearing to gather testimony from some of those Americans afflicted with this devastating illness. Its swath is wide. Diabetes, Type I and Type II, affects nearly 24 million Americans, with some 1.6 million additional people diagnosed each year.
Statistics such as those sound overwhelming, and indeed they are. But they cannot give you the personal stories - the real-life setbacks, struggles and triumphs -- of those living with Type I diabetes.
I wanted to put a face on diabetes, giving those who are battling its effects the opportunity to share how they are living their lives and fulfilling their dreams, despite the obstacles that diabetes puts in their path.
One of the witnesses who testified before our committee was 11-year old Hannah Ryder of Cumberland, who traveled to Washington, D.C., with her parents, Pam and Paul. Pam works at the Maine College of Art in Portland, and Paul works for Burgess Business in Bath. They have three other children - Olivia, 14, Gregory, 8, and Hannah's twin sister, Julia. Thankfully, Julia doesn't suffer from diabetes as Hannah does. That just shows how random and arbitrary this disease can be. It can strike anyone, and when it does, it abruptly and permanently changes people's lives.
Hannah told our committee that her life "changed forever three years ago," when she was diagnosed with diabetes. To raise money for research into a cure for this terrible disease, Hannah and her family do all sorts of fundraising efforts - from bake sales and art sales to community walks and lemonade stands. Hannah told the panel that she recently wrote a school paper about what she would do if she were elected President some day. She said she would hold "more walks to raise funds to find a cure for diseases like diabetes." And she added: "I'm doing my part and so are my family and friends."
Hannah, like some other people with this illness, also suffers from celiac disease, which prevents her from eating certain kinds of food, including all forms of wheat. Her body cannot absorb the proteins in wheat and related grains. She must avoid all wheat products - not an easy task when grocery shopping or dining at a restaurant.
I asked Hannah about her life plans. Given the health concerns she faces each day and the way she must carefully manage her diet and monitor her blood sugar levels, I thought her response was wonderful.
Her goal: To one day go to culinary school, hopeful that she won't have to include a carbohydrate chart on her menus, hopeful that her patrons will be able to eat whatever they desire, hopeful that she will be able to cook foods containing wheat and enjoy those recipes herself.
Hannah is hopeful for a cure. So is 8-year old Cole Buchanan, from Falmouth, who was also a delegate to this year's Children's Congress. And so am I.
But finding a cure requires scientific research and that costs money.
That is why I have spent so many years working to steadily increase the amount of federal dollars spent on diabetes research. Since I founded the Senate Diabetes Caucus, we have more than tripled the amount of federal funding designated for diabetes research. The funding now tops more than $1 billion.
That sounds like a lot of money, but consider this-- treating people with diabetes accounts for more than $174 billion of our nation's annual health care costs. Overall, health care spending for people with diabetes is almost double what it would be if they did not have the disease. If we can find a cure for diabetes, not only do we dramatically improve the lives of children like Hannah and Cole and millions of other people, but we also significantly reduce the nation's overall health care costs.
The theme of this year's Children's Congress was to "promise to remember." I gave my personal promise to remember and to continue to do everything I can in Congress to support the scientific research that will lead to a cure for diabetes. On that day, we can all return to that same Senate hearing room and celebrate that long-sought achievement.