Senator Murray Remarks at “Children’s Congress” Hearing on Type 1 Diabetes
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s opening remarks***
Washington, D.C. – Today—at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on accelerating research and a cure for Type 1 diabetes—the annual “Children’s Congress”—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered opening remarks underscoring the importance of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Special Diabetes Program and how President Trump’s unprecedented attacks on our nation’s premier biomedical research enterprise threatens to unravel decades of progress and set back hope for a cure for Type 1 diabetes.
Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:
“Thank you again Chair Collins for again convening this really important, impressive hearing to talk about the NIH Special Diabetes Program’s critical work that supports life-changing research for millions of people who are living with Type 1 Diabetes, and in particular, to hear from all the kids and young adults who are living with Type 1 diabetes who came all the way here today to talk about why this program matters.
“I know all of you have traveled from all over the country, I don’t think anybody made it here from Washington state, it’s a long trip—oh in the back, awesome! Great to see you! I want you to know that your voices make a huge difference in making sure that Congress takes action to treat and, eventually, cure Type 1 diabetes. It’s important that all of us understand your experiences with diabetes, which is of course, what this hearing is all about.
“And of course—it is important that we improve our understanding of this disease itself, which is what the NIH Special Diabetes Program is all about.
“This program has a great history of accomplishment: getting new artificial pancreatic devices to market, bringing us a new medication to delay Type 1 diagnoses, and improving care for patients with serious complications, and more breakthroughs that we all know are just around the corner.
“This work is life-changing. Which is why I do want to really express my concern today about the fact that the Trump administration is terminating or freezing more than 260 grants from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
“The care and research that people are counting on is really in jeopardy, and your voices are important today.
“Four of those cancelled NIDDK grants are in my home state of Washington—including a clinical trial looking at blood pressure in 200 hemodialysis patients, and a grant to train the next generation of researchers.
“And I know that at Columbia University, President Trump terminated funding for research on how Type 1 diabetes affects bone strength in kids.
“I don’t think anyone here needs us to explain why that’s so important, we need to strengthen bones and avoid fractures—so everyone can run, and play, and compete in sports, and live life to its fullest.
“So, I want to be clear here today: Trump does not get to decide funding for diabetes. Congress does. And I know members on both sides of the aisle are committed to making sure we maintain strong investments in this work.
“But we need more than just talk right now, we need to stand up and reject what is happening right now to biomedical research at NIH. And I know that my colleagues understand that as well.
“So again, I really want to thank all of you for being here today. Because when it comes to defending this research, when it comes to pushing back against these kinds of cuts and funding freezes that we are seeing—the most effective tool we have is our voices—like the advocates in this room. The strongest way all of you can push back is by speaking out, just like you are doing today, sharing your stories, which are so important, and making sure everyone knows what is at stake.
“And I know that with the incredible advocates like all of you, we are going to keep making progress, and we’re going to keep investing in life-changing research, and—eventually—cure Type 1 diabetes.”
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