Include three to five year reauthorization of Special Diabetes Programs.

As your constituent, I urge you to include a 3-5 year reauthorization of the Special Diabetes Programs at the National Institutes of Health and the Indian Health Service when Congress takes up the Medicare package this year.

These programs represent a significant proportion of the commitment from the federal government to combat, prevent and cure diabetes. If Congress doesn't take action these programs will end next year, cutting off research that may accelerate the understanding and research into a cure for diabetes. The Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 Diabetes Research at the National Institutes of Health and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians at the Indian Health Service, have made great strides in increasing our understanding of how to treat, prevent and hopefully one day cure diabetes.

Please stand up for the millions of people living with diabetes in the U.S. and include a 3-5 year reauthorization of the Special Diabetes Programs in the Medicare package.

Sincerely,