OKC Standard

U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) has joined a bipartisan effort led by Senate Diabetes Caucus co-chairs Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) to push for the reauthorization of the Special Diabetes Program (SDP). Alongside 52 other Senate colleagues, they sent a letter to Senate leadership highlighting the significance of this program.

"Diabetes is one of our country’s most costly diseases in both human and economic terms, affecting people of all ages and races, and in every region of our country," the senators stated. They pointed out that diabetes leads to severe health issues such as kidney disease, blindness, lower-limb amputations, heart disease, and stroke. The financial impact is also substantial; "approximately one in four health care dollars and one in three Medicare dollars are spent treating people with diabetes," costing $412.9 billion in 2022.

The SDP has been providing essential resources for over 27 years to support research breakthroughs benefiting millions with diabetes or prediabetes. The program consists of two parts: funding for Type 1 Diabetes Research aimed at prevention, treatment, and potential cures; and a program specifically aiding American Indian and Alaska Native populations who face higher rates of type 2 diabetes.

More than 37 million Americans live with diabetes, making it one of the leading causes of death in the United States with over 101,000 fatalities recorded last year.

The letter supporting SDP was signed by Senators from across the political spectrum including Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), John Boozman (R-AR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Shelley Capito (R-WV), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Charles Grassley (R-IA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), John Hoeven(R-ND) , Mark Kelly(D-AZ) , Angus King(I-ME) , Amy Klobuchar(D-MN) , Ben Ray Luján(D-NM) , Cynthia Lummis(R-WY) , Edward Markey(D-MA) , Jeff Merkley(D-OR) , Jerry Moran(R-KS) , Lisa Murkowski(R-AK) , Patty Murray(D-WA ) Alex Padilla(R -CA ) Gary Peters(D -MI ) Jack Reed(D -RI ) James Risch(R -ID ) Jacklyn Rosen( D -NV ), Mike Rounds( R -SD ), Brian Schatz( D -HI ), Kyrsten Sinema( D -AZ ), Tina Smith( D -MN ), Debbie Stabenow( D -MI ), Dan Sullivan( R-AK ), Thom Tillis( R-NC ), Chris Van Hollen( D-Md.), Mark Warner( D-Va.), Raphael Warnock( D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren( D-Mass.) Peter Welch(Vt.) Sheldon Whitehouse(R.I.) Roger Wicker(Mississippi).

The full text of their letter is available for public viewing.