Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5354. I worked on this bill with Mr. Engel. This bill has gone through regular order and passed the Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously, and I thank all of the staff involved, from the personal staff levels of Mr. Engel's office and mine, and the committee staff for their hard work on the bill before us today. As an obstetrician, I have witnessed the effect of gestational diabetes on both mother and child. Gestational diabetes is a growing problem, and we really don't know why. Unlike type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes has a very different issue, requiring a unique approach. Gestational diabetes affects between 2 and 5 percent of pregnant women, about 135,000 cases in the United States each year, and usually occurs late in pregnancy. If left untreated, gestational diabetes can have a significant impact on both mother and child. Women and children affected by gestational diabetes are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and it is associated with additional health problems for both mother and child during both pregnancy and childbirth. In addition, once a mother contracts gestational diabetes, her chances are 2 in 3 that it may return in future pregnancies. That is why this act, the Gestational Diabetes Act of 2009, is a vital investment in our future.…”