Congresswoman Diana DeGette, Colorado – Thanks For All Your Hard Work!

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 .