From the Endocrine Society: "The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 (S. 471) is reaching a critical juncture, and we need your support. This bill must be passed with no amendments. In anticipation of the August recess and upcoming vote, Senate co-sponsors Arlen Specter (R-PA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA), recently held a press conference urging members to vote in support of the bill. The companion measure in the House of Representatives (H.R. 810) recently passed 238-194 with strong bipartisan support. The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 would allow researchers to utilize all stem cell lines derived from embryos originally created for in vitro fertilization, which would otherwise be discarded, with the support of federal funding. Please contact your senators to express the importance of supporting enhanced policies on stem cell research. Urge him or her to vote for S. 471 with NO amendments. You may contact your senator via The Endocrine Society's advocacy Website at www.capwiz.com/endocrine/home. Click on the "Support Enhanced Stem Cell Research in Senate" legislative alert to make your voice heard." [Click on the words in the yellow box labeled "Action Alert!"] [added July 22, 2005]

Support the Medicare Safe Needle Disposal Coverage Act of 2005 HR 2841. A new piece of federal legislation, HR 2841, entitled the "Medicare Safe Needle Disposal Coverage Act", has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives during the week of June 6, 2005. This bill will provide Medicare reimbursement for the costs of needle destruction devices and sharps-by-mail programs for the self-injecting patient with diabetes. Reimbursement for the associated costs of proper home-needle disposal will play a major roll in efforts to eliminate the unsafe disposal of nearly 3 billion needles used annually in the U.S. outside a healthcare facility. See www.hr2841.com for more information. [added July 21, 2005]

Unique program for children newly diagnosed with diabetes to hold "encore" "Barton Center's Second National 'Learn, Laugh, Live' Effort to Follow First Weekend's Success." [added July 13, 2005]

Showcase Comedy (http://www.showcasecomedy.com; http://www.80daysfordiabetes.com) "Every Wednesday for the next 80 days, Showcase Comedy Lounge will be a hosting a charity event for the American Diabetes Association. Help us reach our goal of $100,000!" [added March 27, 2005]

Diabetes Dialogue (http://www.tellparliament.net/diabetes/) "I am delighted at your interest in this inquiry by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Diabetes into the management of people living with diabetes in the UK." Adrian Sanders MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Diabetes [added January 30, 2005]

Darts for Diabetes [added November 22, 2004]

ADA and AFT opinions on care of schoolchildren with diabetes [added July 30, 2004]

Text of Ron Reagan's speech as prepared for delivery 27July2004 at the Democratic National Convention [added July 29, 2004]

Children Have Rights In School (http://www.type1info.com) We would like to make changes in local and national legislation regarding the needs and rights of our schoolchildren who have Diabetes. Many parents do not know where to turn for answers about the care and the rights of their diabetic child while attending school. The purpose of this web site is to inform and educate these parents. We want to share with you what we have done, and are doing now, to try to end the risk of your child not being allowed to care for themselves properly during the day. We hope we can help you find answers and end the worry you have while you are away from your child. [added April 1, 2002]

Diabetes Info (http://www.diabetesinfo.cc/) Jim McCord is planning a cross country run to raise awareness of the need to increase federal funding of diabetes research. His daughter has type 1 diabetes. [added January 5, 2002]

Advocacy American Diabetes Association [added January 1, 2002]

Legislative Action Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation [added January 1, 2002]

Legislation and Reimbursement American Association of Diabetes Educators [added January 1, 2002]
President Announces New Investment in Diabetes Research, Treatment, and Prevention [added July 13, 2000]
Congressional Diabetes Caucus At Representative George R. Nethercutt, Jr.'s website. [added March 12, 2000]
ADA Team Diabetes [added August 25, 98]
IBM and the United Way [added August 09, 98]
New York's Diabetes Insurance Mandate [March 19, 1998]
Program Memorandum Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carrier (DMERC) Instructions to Implement Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA) Provisions, §4l05, to Provide Expanded Coverage of Blood Glucose Monitors and Testing Strips for all Diabetics. Implement July l, l998. from the US Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA)." In 1997, the US Congress authorized payment for blood glucose test strips and other diabetes supplies for all Medicare patients with diabetes. But the Federal bureaucrats in HCFA think they can continue to discriminate between people taking insulin and those who don't: they'll allow only 25 strips per month (less than one a day!) for most patients who don't take insulin!
Consumer Bill of Rights and Responsibilities: Report to the President of the United States [added November, 97]
President Clinton Announces Diabetes Initiatives [August 09, 97]
Missouri passes Diabetes Bill [added July 3, 1997]
The Kassebaum-Kennedy Health Care Reform Act (S.1028) [Aug 21, 96]