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The American Diabetes Association |
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Written by Web Master
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Saturday, 12 June 2004 |
The American Diabetes Association Applauds Representative Curt Weldon’s Efforts on NIH Diabetes Research
PRW via Dow Jones
Head of Congressional Diabetes Caucus Garners 266 Members of Congress On Letter to President Clinton
PHILADELPHIA, June 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Diabetes Association today applauded U.S. Representative Curt Weldon (R-PA) for his public policy expertise and leadership capabilities. Weldon recently wrote a letter to President Clinton requesting a significant increase in funding for diabetes research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and was able to get 266 of his colleagues to sign it.
To help combat diabetes, one of the most serious public health problems facing our nation, Weldon has served as Co-chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus. It is now the largest Member organization in Congress. Searching for solutions to this problem, Weldon observed the irony that the federal government spends $45 billion a year caring for people once they have diabetes, but spends very little on research to prevent and cure this serious disease.
In 1998, Congress passed legislation establishing a group of experts to examine lost diabetes research opportunities due to the lack of federal funds dedicated to study the disease. From that effort, the National Institutes of Health-selected Diabetes Research Working Group (DRWG) spent a year developing a five-year plan outlining "extraordinary research opportunities" about this crucial problem. The letter to the President, signed by so many of Weldon's colleagues, requests the Administration to allocate the necessary resources at NIH to fully implement this important plan.
The American Diabetes Association salutes Congressman Weldon's efforts that generated this rare show of support from the U.S. House of Representatives. Dr. Ann Albright, Chair of the American Diabetes Association's Government Relations Committee and a member of its National Board of Directors, said, "Representative Weldon has exhibited tremendous leadership in the effort to increase diabetes research funding and thereby reduce the enormous cost to taxpayers due to the treatment and care of diabetes-related complications."
Diabetes is a serious disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls diabetes "the epidemic of our time." It touches upon many other health conditions. Diabetes is a contributing and underlying cause of many of the diseases that the federal government spends the most on in care. For example,
Diabetes is:
--a significant cause of heart disease, which is the nation's leading cause of death and costs our nation $175.3 billion each year;
--a significant cause of stroke; the nation's third leading cause of death that costs our nation $43.3 billion each year;
--the leading cause of kidney disease, which costs our nation $40.3 billion per year and causes people requiring kidney dialysis to go on Medicare;
--the leading cause of adult-onset blindness and lower-limb amputations.
Diabetes alone, independent of the costs for related conditions, costs our nation more than $100 billion a year. The American taxpayer pays approximately $45 billion each year caring for people with diabetes in federal programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, and through the Veterans Administration and the Indian Health Service.
"On behalf of the 16 million Americans with diabetes, a disease that crosses gender, race, ethnicity and political party; a disease that is among the most prevalent, debilitating, costly and deadly in our nation; and a disease that is exploding throughout our nation; I want to thank Congressman Weldon for his tireless efforts to make the implementation of the scientific and funding recommendations of the DRWG a reality," said Dr. Albright.
The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the Association has offices in every region of the country, providing services to more than 800 communities. For more information, please call 800-DIABETES or visit its web site at http://www.diabetes.orq.
/CONTACT: Gerry Lynam of American Diabetes Association, 703-299-2061/ 20:34 EDT
7281 06/06/2000 20:34 EDT
Copyright (c) 2000 PR Newswire
Received by NewsEdge Insight: 06/06/2000 20:42:42
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 06 March 2008 )
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 09 August 2004 |
On May 5, 2006, Curt Weldon dedicated Children and Adult Disability and Educational Services playground in Swarthmore, PA. CADES was originally founded in 1951 as United Cerebral Palsy of Delaware County when a small group of parents met to establish a registration of all those with cerebral palsy in Delaware County to study their needs and to work towards meeting these needs. The organization has since grown to provide a continuum of services to support people with a wide variety of disabilities and their families. CADES now offers a continuum of services for people with disabilities living in Delaware County and adjacent areas of surrounding counties, such as school, adult, residential and transportation programs.
On June 5, 2006, Curt Weldon spoke at Melmark School at Berwyn, PA. Melmark is a truly unique environment where children and adults with special needs are given the opportunity to reach their full potential. It provides residential, educational, therapeutic, and recreational services for children and adults with developmental disabilities in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Its varied programs promote independence, increased self-awareness, and confidence, while offering participants opportunities to make friends and develop personal interests. Melmark delivers effective research-based services emphasizing personal worth and achievement. All programming occurs in the least restrictive environment possible.
Congressman Weldon saw firsthand how the school serves the community and persons with disabilities.
Since his days as an educator and member of the Delaware County Council, Curt has been a supporter of improving access to education for children with disabilities. Curt Weldon recently participated in the groundbreaking of an “all abilities” playground – the first of its kind in southeastern Pennsylvania – at the George Crothers School in Swarthmore. This playground will allow students and children of “all abilities” to play and learn together. Curt also recently met with students and staff at the Melmark School in Berwyn. This school provides a range of services for children and adults with special needs, including residential, educational, therapeutic, and recreational services for children and adults with developmental disabilities in Pennsylvania. Congressman Weldon has also supported legislation in the 109th Congress.
Curt Weldon cosponsored HR 414, Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act, which would allow a nonrefundable income tax credit of up to $500 for the purchase of a qualified hearing aid for an individual who is claimed as a dependent of the taxpayer.
He cosponsored HR 910, Medicaid Community-Based Attendant Services and Support Act of 2005, which would amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide individuals with disabilities with equal access to community-based attendant services and supports, aiding them in every day tasks.
Congressman Weldon cosponsored HR 1252, Teague Ryan Sudden Child Cardiac Arrhythmia Syndromes Screening and Education Act of 2005. This bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to screen children for sudden cardiac arrhythmia syndromes and provide education on such syndromes to health professionals and the general public. This bill also requires the Secretary of Health to give priority to educational activities directed toward parents of such children and health professionals who commonly provide medical care for such children.
Curt cosponsored HR 2238, Children’s Vision Improvement and Learning Readiness Act of 2005. This bill authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to states for providing comprehensive eye examinations for children, with priority given to children under nine years old; subsequent vision treatment or services to correct vision problems; and educational materials to parents, teachers, and health care practitioners on recognizing signs of visual impairment in children.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 06 March 2008 )
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Education and community funding |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 09 August 2004 |
Congressman Weldon works hard to support education in the 7th Congressional district. As a teacher, he understands the needs and the complexities of funding, maintaining and upholding educational values in our district and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He also maintains regular outreach with various educational institutions based in the 7th district.
Curt Weldon takes very seriously America’s obligation to educate its young people, as the youth of today will be tomorrow’s leaders. Congressman Weldon used his position in the House of Representatives to secure a $1 million appropriation for the Widener University School of Psychology. Working hard to ensure that important education programs are funded, Congressman supports federal funding for Pennsylvania’s education tasks. On March 7, 2006, he congratulated the Montgomery County Head Start Program for its $3,153,096 Head Start Grant award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The funds will go towards daily running and management of the children’s classrooms, personnel, supplies and equipment, contractual services for speech therapy and psychological assistance, as well as health and nutrition programs, and will assist 500 children who participate in the Montgomery Head Start Program.
Curt Weldon helped secure funding for the following education and community initiatives in our district:
Foundation of the Delaware County Chamber, under the Community Partnership for Job Readiness Program, proposes to provide workforce development services in the municipalities of Chester City and Upper Darby, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The Partnership program will work to prepare Chester and Upper Darby residents to meet the employment needs of area businesses and industries in the near future. The project will identify the needs for and coordinate the delivery of technical training for Chester and Upper Darby residents.
Pathways to Success, which addresses both the results of family abuse and the broader realities of economic disadvantage. This new project focused on mental health prevention/early intervention, will further the ability of teen mothers who participate in our programs to break the cycle of abuse. With the support of this program clients can work through feelings about past traumas.
Delaware County Community College, to consolidate and upgrade the colleges science, engineering and technology resources into a single building, which will serve as a vibrant center for the study of science, engineering, technology and mathematics.
Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium of Higher Education. A major priority of this consortium is the on-going education of elementary and high school teachers. The Institute will provide continuing professional education to help teachers stay abreast of the continually emerging technologies in math and science.
Nathan Speare Regional Burn Treatment Center, to upgrade the facilities of the Nathan Speare Regional Burn Treatment Center at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. The new facility plans include: a hyperbaric chamber; a skin storage facility; ultrasound equipment; a water distillation system; improved ventilating systems; and increased rehabilitation, education, and telecommunication facilities.
Collegiate Consortium for Workforce & Economic Development, to expand its innovative model for workforce enhancement, retention, and competitiveness throughout the greater Philadelphia region. Specific activities to be funded by this request include: operational budget support for expanded workforce development initiatives; worker assessments, and development of specific courses and delivery mechanisms to address the workforce needs of industry and municipalities within the region.
Widener University’s School of Human Service Professions, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Chester-Upland School District Board of Control. Together, they will plan to take control of an urban K-5 school located on the edge of Widener’s Chester campus and that is currently a part of the lowest performing school district in the state.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 06 March 2008 )
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