Wed. Nov 14th: SDPI National Call-In Day
We Need Your Voice to Save the SDPI
The Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) provides critical programs that are helping our Tribal communities address complications and burdens of diabetes. This critical program is set to expire unless Congress acts to renew it. We need your help. On November 14th - World Diabetes Day - please join NIHB and Tribal communities from across the country in asking your Senators and Representatives to support renewal of the SDPI this year! We need to make sure that Congress renews SDPI!...
Help us ensure that SDPI continues:
Take Action Now!
In an effort to demonstrate a broad base of bipartisan support for the renewal of SDPI, NIHB joined with the American Diabetes Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in circulating a sign on letter to members of Congress in support of renewing the program. Thanks to the calls to Members from individuals throughout Indian Country, the effort was a huge success. 269 Representatives and 72 Senators signed the letter! The letter has been delivered to House and Senate leadership, and the next step in this campaign is for Members of Congress who signed the letter to hear from their constituents thanking them for their support. This is an important component of the overall strategy, and we need your help to ensure that Members hear that their constituents are grateful for their support.
We need you to reach out and thank your Member of Congress if they signed the letter.
Click links here (House Sign On Letter (PDF) | Senate Sign On Letter (PDF)) to see if your Member of Congress signed the letter and call their offices to say thank you.
You can use these talking points:- I am a constituent and calling to thank Senator ____ / Representative ____ for signing onto a letter supporting renewal of the Special Diabetes Program for Indians.
- SDPI is a life-saving program that provides real returns on federal investment.
- SDPI must be reauthorized this year to continue to make progress on the devastatingly high incidence of diabetes in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
- Please be sure to pass along my sincere appreciation to Senator ____ / Representative _____.
To determine your Representative and receive specific contact information for them, click here.
To determine your Senators and receive specific contact information for them, click here.
To be connected to a Representative or Senator via phone,
call the Congressional switchboard at: 202-224-3121
Background on the SDPI
Congress established the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) in 1997 for the prevention and treatment of diabetes in American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). AI/ANs have the highest rates of type 2 diabetes in the United States, 2.8 times higher than the U.S. general population. The SDPI is currently funded at $150 million per year through Fiscal Year (FY) 2013.
The program will expire in 2013 unless it is reauthorized.
To ensure uninterrupted funding for SDPI, it is crucial that Congress pass a reauthorization this year. SDPI proves that federal investment in community-driven, culturally-appropriate prevention programs has immensely positive results:- Average blood sugar levels among the AI/AN population decreased a full percentage point (from 9.0 percent to 8.0 percent) between 1996 and 2011, translating into a 40% reduction in risks for many complications.
- Average LDL (bad) cholesterol declined over 20 percent between 1998 and 2011, significantly lowering the risk of cardiovascular complications.
- Between 1995 and 2006, the incidence rate of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) in AI/AN individuals with diabetes fell by 27.7 percent, which translates into millions of dollars in savings for Medicare, the Indian Health Service, and other third party payers.
» Download SDPI Grantee Toolkit (DOC)
For more information contact:
Jennifer Cooper, NIHB Legislative Director at Jcooper@nihb.org or 202-507-4070
