Breakthrough T1D Promise to Remember Me 2024

Every other year our national network of advocacy leaders schedule Congressional meetings in their home states to advance issues that are important to the T1D community and to convene individuals and families to share their experiences of life with T1D. These meetings ensure our Federal legislators understand the emotional, physical, and financial realities of the disease and how they can be supportive of their constituents impacted by T1D.   This campaign will run from January 15 – March 1.  Let Breakthrough T1D know if you’re interested in attending a meeting with your Congressperson!

Reauthorization of the Special Diabetes Program

The Special Diabetes Program (SDP) is a critical program that has provided $150 million annually for type 1 diabetes (T1D) research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the country’s premier medical research agency. The SDP complements Breakthrough T1D’s research efforts. Together, they are leading to new insights and therapies that are improving the lives of people with diabetes and accelerating progress to cure, treat, and prevent T1D.

In November, SDP funding was included in second continuing budget resolution (CR) that will run through mid-January.

The Advocacy team sent out an action alert on Nov. 16 asking advocates to thank Congress for this additional funding. Ultimately, we are still advocating for a full reauthorization for 2 years of funding at $170 million.

Both the House and the Senate have language that has been introduced that calls for the SDP to be renewed at $170 million until December 2025 and are currently pending action.

Advocates in Action Council

The AAC is a group of young adults (ages 18-26)–business and civic professionals as well as students–who actively support the advancement of Breakthrough T1D’s advocacy priority areas, spread of awareness of type 1 diabetes (T1D) within their communities, and inspire youth to use their voices and share their stories to help drive meaningful change, all of which is in the pursuit of ultimately finding cures for T1D.

The new resource page for young adults transitioning to college or the workforce was launched in November  – it’s exciting to see all the hard work of the first class of AAC members come together!

Applications for the 2024 AAC closed on November 30th, and the new AAC class will begin their work in January.

Insulin Affordability Update

Senate Diabetes Caucus Co-Chairs Susan Collins of Maine and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire introduced S. 1269, the INSULIN Act of 2023 in April of 2023. Breakthrough T1D endorsed the bill and has been a key partner in developing this legislation and received multiple kudos on the Senate floor from Senators Shaheen and Collins for our work. The bill includes several provisions aimed at making insulin more affordable, including a $35 commercial insurance copay cap, passing PBM rebates and discounts through to health plans, and supporting biosimilar and generic insulin competition in the market.

If you haven’t already, please take action at jdrf.org/INSULINAct, to contact your Congresspeople about supporting this important legislation.