Senator Collins Receives Mary Tyler Moore Award for Diabetes Advocacy from JDRF
Click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for photos of Senator Collins at JDRF’s Awards Breakfast
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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins received the Inaugural Mary Tyler Moore Award from JDRF for her longstanding support of the Type 1 diabetes community. Senator Collins also met with Maine members of JDRF, Bek and Barrett Hoskins.
“Mary Tyler Moore was a pioneer in the entertainment industry and an inspiration to millions of women. I was so fortunate to come to know Mary as a friend, and as someone who dedicated her life to helping others. As international chairman of JDRF, she worked to raise awareness and improve the lives of so many living with Type 1 diabetes,” said Senator Collins. “I am grateful to receive this recognition that honors Mary’s legacy, and I will continue to build on the progress we have made to better treat, prevent, and ultimately cure this disease. With the strong support and advocacy of JDRF chapters across the country, I am confident that we will conquer this terrible disease.”
As the founder and co-chair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, Senator Collins has led action in the U.S. Senate to advance priorities that will lower the cost of insulin, invest in research, and improve access to treatment options.
As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins has also championed increased funding for diabetes research. The 2023 government funding law included $2.44 billion to support the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the primary federal agency responsible for conducting research for the prevention and treatment of diabetes. This is an increase of $88 million from the previous year’s appropriation. Senator Collins also advocates for the Special Diabetes Program, which has laid the groundwork for Artificial Pancreas systems and spurred the first-ever disease modifying therapy for Type 1 diabetes.
More than 37 million Americans are living with diabetes, and 96 million Americans have prediabetes. JDRF is the leading global organization funding Type 1 diabetes research. Their mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat Type 1 diabetes and its complications.
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