Madam Chairman, thank you for conducting today's hearing on Juvenile Diabetes.

Diabetes is a significant health problem in my home state of Hawaii. An estimated 100,000 people in Hawaii have diabetes according to the state Department of Health, and the Hawaii Medical Service Association notes that approximately 2,300 people on the island of Oahu have Type 1 diabetes. More than 900 people die every year of diabetes related causes in Hawaii.

Diabetes is a disease that disproportionately affects Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. In fact, Native Hawaiians, Japanese and Filipino adults living in Hawaii are twice as likely to have been diagnosed with diabetes as compared to other residents.

Diabetes is a disease that is extremely difficult for patients to manage. Taking insulin injections and carefully monitoring blood sugar levels are not easy tasks for children and adults alike. Even with careful management, diabetes can contribute to significant health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, eye disease and blindness, kidney disease, and pregnancy complications.

We must do more to increase funding for diabetes research and enact meaningful stem cell legislation to advance treatments to make it easier to manage, treat, and prevent diabetes. Although today's focus is on Juvenile Diabetes, we are demonstrating our support for research to improve the treatment options available to all individuals suffering from both types of diabetes.

Overall, we must continue to increase the funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). I have been frustrated by the substantial slowing in the growth of the NIH budget over the past few years. I understand the tremendous importance of medical research to help alleviate suffering and improve the quality of life, and I will continue to support efforts to increase research funding substantially for NIH, especially for diabetes-related research.

Madam Chairman, like you, I am a cosponsor of S. 471, introduced by Senator Specter and Senator Harkin, which would authorize federal funding for research on stem cells derived from embryos donated from in vitro fertilization. Unless this legislation is enacted, these embryos will likely be destroyed if they are not donated for research. This bill also would institute strong ethical guidelines for this research. The House companion measure is pending consideration in the Senate, and I urge its passage so that researchers may move forward on ethical, federally funded research projects that develop better treatments for those suffering from diseases, especially individuals who are battling diabetes.

Unfortunately, the President has placed restrictions on stem cell research which prevent federal funds from being used for research on newer, more promising stem cell lines. In addition, embryonic stem cell lines now eligible for federal funding are not genetically diverse enough to realize the full therapeutic potential of this research. I remain opposed to the President's stem cell policy, which prevents researchers from working on an area of research that is very promising and that could alleviate the pain and suffering of individuals.

I look forward to hearing the testimony of our witnesses today who will share their experiences of living diabetes. I am especially pleased that one of my constituents -- 13 year old Dayna Akiu -- is visiting Capitol Hill today. Dayna, despite having diabetes, plays soccer for Kamehameha Schools and the Real Hawaii Futbol Club. I welcome Dana and all of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's advocates who are in Washington today.

Again, Madam Chairman thank you for conducting this important hearing. I look forward to continuing to work with all of you to improve the lives of individuals who have diabetes.