JDRF Illinois Government Relations

JDRF volunteer Lauren Hermsen recently visited the U.S. House Chambers for the final State of the Union Address. She was seated in the gallery with Representative Melissa Bean, as an ambassador of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Lauren was diagnosed with type 1 at the age of 2, and has volunteered alongside her parents for many years to help raise funding for JDRF.
 
Photo: Congresswoman Melissa Bean (8th District) and Lauren Hermsen

Research Funding
 
The House and Senate Diabetes Caucuses have circulated a sign-on letter (Dear Colleague letter) in support of increased funding for type 1 diabetes research. The letters (see below) were sent to legislators in the House and Senate and will be an important tool in ensuring that Congress provides additional type 1 diabetes research support this year. We need you to call your legislators and ask them to sign the Dear Colleague letter to show their support for increased research funding for type 1 diabetes. 
• Senate version
• House version

In Illinois, we would like to offer our thanks to the following Illinois legislators for their signatures of support: Senators Durbin and Obama, and Representatives Bean, Biggert, Davis, Gutierrez, Hastert, Jackson, Kirk, Lipinski, Manzullo, Roskam, Rush, and Schakowsky.

For more information on renewal of Type 1 special funding see the JDRF position paper.

Stem Cell Legislation

State: SB 4, the Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning Prohibition Act, was signed into law at the end of August, capping off a long effort to protect all forms of stem cell research in Illinois, prohibit human cloning, and provide oversight for the stem cell research already funded in Illinois by prior executive orders. The bill passed its last hurdle in the spring, when a strong majority voted it out of the House. Thanks to all our advocates who helped make this happen, and to our legislators who supported the effort, with special thanks to Tom Cross, IL House Republican Leader.

Federal: The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (S. 5) passed the Senate on April 11th by a vote of 63 to 34, with three supporters not present. The House version of the bill passed in January. Because the bills differ slightly, the Senate version will have to be passed through the House.

Illinois Children’s Congress delegates pose with American Idol finalist Elliot Yamin, who also has type 1 diabetes.

Children’s Congress 2007 took place in June, with delegates Ryan Covarrubias, Cole DeYoung, Lexi DeYoung, Nicole Kozak, and Alan Schaefer attending on behalf of Illinois. For more pictures and details of all the activities, please visit the Children’s Congress webpage.

Resources