JDFI LEGISLATIVE ALERT
New Diabetes Research Initiative Included in 1997 Balanced Budget Act
August 5, 1997
The President signed into law today the 1997 Balanced Budget Act which included $330 million in new funds for diabetes programs - specifically $150 million that is earmarked for Type I diabetes research. This Act provides $30 million per year for five years for innovative research and treatment programs focusing on the prevention and cure of Type I diabetes. This money is in addition to the annual funds appropriated by Congress for medical and diabetes research conducted through the programs of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
For this reason, we need your help in thanking Speaker Newt Gingrich and President Clinton for their efforts and support of this budget provision. In addition, this budget provision would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of Congressman George Nethercutt (R-WA) and Congresswoman Elizabeth Furse (D-OR) who have worked together to create a greater awareness of diabetes research issues on Capitol Hill.
In your thank-you letters to these four individuals, be sure to include your personal story and a short note about how much their efforts and this special budget provision means to the approximately 16 million people nationwide with diabetes.
Thank-you letters should be addressed to:
The Honorable Bill Clinton
(Dear Mr. President:)
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
The Honorable Newt Gingrich
(Dear Mr. Speaker:)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Elizabeth Furse
(Dear Congresswoman Furse:)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable George Nethercutt
(Dear Congressman Nethercutt:)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Please send a copy of all correspondence to:
JDFI Government Relations
1400 I Street, NW
Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005
Fax: (202) 371-2760 or e-mail your letter to: Bschmidt@jdfcure.com
If you have any questions related to this alert, please contact Eric Schutt at Bschmidt@jdfcure.com or at 1-800-JDF-1-VOTE.