Shaheen, Collins Introduce Reauthorization of Special Diabetes Program
**Legislation comes on the heels of a Shaheen-Collins led letter signed by 60 fellow Senators pushing for the program’s reauthorization**
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME), co-chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, introduced bipartisan legislation today to reauthorize the Special Diabetes Program. The Special Diabetes Program Reauthorization Act of 2023 would reauthorize and strengthen critically important Type 1 diabetes research at the National Institutes of Health. This reauthorization would renew vital treatment, education, and prevention programs for at-risk populations, specifically Native American and Alaska Native communities, who experience Type 2 diabetes at nearly three times the national average.
“We must do everything in our power to ensure the 37 million Americans living with diabetes receive the best treatment possible while we work towards a cure,” said Shaheen. “I am proud to push for increased investment in the Special Diabetes Program, which will help us to better treat, prevent and ultimately cure diabetes. This vital program is responsible for groundbreaking discoveries that have helped the millions of Americans living with or at-risk of developing diabetes, and with more investment, we can truly put an end to this deadly disease.”
“Renewal of the SDP is absolutely critical to accelerating the progress we have made over the past two decades to treat, and one day cure, Type 1 diabetes, as well as continue much-needed support, education, and diabetes treatment in Native American and Alaska Native communities,” said Senator Collins. “Today’s research represents tomorrow’s cure. The Special Diabetes Program is a cost-effective investment toward improving lives and reducing health care expenditures, and I urge my colleagues to support a multi-year extension of this important program so that one day we will find a cure to this debilitating disease.”
“JDRF is grateful to Senators Susan Collins and Jeanne Shaheen, two incredible type 1 diabetes (T1D) champions, for introducing the Special Diabetes Program Reauthorization Act, which renews the SDP with a critical increase in funding through December 2025,” said Aaron J. Kowalski, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of JDRF. “This renewal will grow the impact of the SDP in pursuit of cures and a better life for all affected by T1D.”
“The Endocrine Society is happy to endorse legislation introduced by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) to reauthorize the Special Diabetes Program for Type 1 Diabetes and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians,” said Robert Lash, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of the Endocrine Society. “SDP and SDPI play a critical role in addressing the scourge of diabetes throughout our country. SDP has advanced transformational research to delay the full onset of Type 1 diabetes, better understand the underlying causes of diabetes, and to prevent, treat, and reverse complications of this disease. SDPI has provided critical treatment and education for Type 2 diabetes among American Indians and Alaska Natives. We applaud Senator Collins and Shaheen for their leadership and look forward to Senate consideration and bipartisan support of this needed legislation before these programs expire September 30th.”
“The American Diabetes Association (ADA) supports this legislation to extend and increase funding for the Special Diabetes Program and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians, which are critical for type 1 diabetes research,” said Lisa Murdock, Chief Advocacy Officer of the ADA. “The ADA deeply appreciates Senators Shaheen and Collins for their commitment to the diabetes community, and we look forward to working together to secure additional resources for SDP, SDPI and federal diabetes research in the future.”
For over 25 years, the Special Diabetes Program has delivered important resources and groundbreaking research for those with Type 1 diabetes, particularly Native Americans and Alaska Natives. The Special Diabetes Program is comprised of the Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 Diabetes Research and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI). Without an extension, both programs are at risk of expiring at the end of the fiscal year. This bill would ensure both components are funded at $170 million for fiscal year 2024 and fiscal year 2025, in addition to sustaining funding at the comparable level through December 31, 2025.
The Special Diabetes Program consists of two components: the Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 Diabetes Research. This component supports the research aimed at prevention, treatment, and curing type 1 diabetes and its complications. The second component is the Special Diabetes Program for Indians, which supports diabetes treatment and prevention strategies for American Indian and Alaska Native populations who experience Type 2 diabetes at a disproportionately high rate.
As co-chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, Shaheen and Collins have worked together to increase awareness of the threats posed by diabetes, invest in research, and improve access to treatment options. Earlier this year, Shaheen and Collins introduced the Improving Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now Act of 2023, which would comprehensively address the skyrocketing costs of insulin and remove barriers to care making it more accessible to millions of Americans. Shaheen and Collins have consistently pressed to hold insulin manufacturers, insurers and pharmacy managers accountable for the skyrocketing cost of life-saving insulin.
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