The Breakthrough T1D Promise to Remember Me Campaign is all about building personal relationships between our Advocates and their Members of Congress in state and local district offices. During the campaign, families and those with type 1 diabetes (T1D) visit their lawmakers while they are at home.
The goal in 2020 was to meet virtually with every Member of Congress to reinforce our relationships with decision-makers and to ensure the needs of the T1D community are top-of-mind.
“Meetings between Breakthrough T1D families, Members of Congress, and Congressional staffers energize everyone involved to continue pushing for a cure for T1D,” says Eric Kendall, Breakthrough T1D Bay Area Community Advocacy Co-Chair.
“A highlight in each meeting is listening to the personal stories of each advocate. Being a Breakthrough T1D advocate is an engaging way to participate in finding a cure for T1D. Please sign up,” says Missy Reller, Breakthrough T1D Bay Area Community Advocacy Co-Chair.
Our Chapter was very busy throughout the summer and scheduled an impressive number of virtual meetings (13!) with legislators and/or their staff. In addition to discussing what it’s like to live with T1D and why improving the lives of the 1.6 million Americans who have it is so important, the main topics on the agenda were:
- Pass a four- or five-year Special Diabetes Program (SDP) renewal of at least the current annual federal funding level of $150 million for T1D research.
- Support initiatives that make insulin more accessible and affordable.
Promise Meetings occurred with the following Representatives and/or their staff:
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- Nancy Pelosi
- Anna Eshoo
- Jared Huffman
- Eric Swalwell
- Jackie Speier
- Ro Khanna
- Mark DeSaulnier
- Jimmy Panetta
- Tom McClintock
- Ami Bera
- Josh Harder
- Doug LaMalfa
- Jerry McNerney
Check out our gallery of screen shots below, showcasing many of these successful meetings. A big thank you to our army of Breakthrough T1D Advocates who led these meetings! Click here to sign up to be a Breakthrough T1D Advocate to find out more about how you help influence your government to help end this disease.
Congressional Representative Jerry McNerney. In the photo: Chris Tapio, Eric Kendall, Laura Moreno, Jerry McNerney
Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In the photo: Adriana Hidalgo Special Assistant and District Scheduler, Shelby Dillingham, Morgan Faulkner, Olivia Gardner, Jennifer & Jonah Pliner, Elena and Samantha Lipkins, Garrett Jensen, Cheyanne Faulkner, Jill McInerney, Will Dow, Eric Kendall
Congressional Representative Jared Huffman. In the photo: Eric Kendall, Missy Reller, Dayton Coles, Adrea Tencer, Michelle Griffin
Congressional Representative Anna Eshoo. In the photo: Susan Kraus, Carol Pliner, Missy Reller, Bonnie Carlson, Jonah Cohen, Jolee & Jacob Crosson
Congressional Representative Eric Swalwell. In the photo: Eric Kendall, Missy Reller, Yolanda Fintschenko, Andy Vance, Adeola Adesina Health Policy Advisor, Genevieve Getman-Sowa, and Erik Sowa
Congressional Representative Jackie Speier. In the photo: Missy Reller, Alison and Tabitha ten Cate, Brian Collins Legislative Assistant, Sera Alptekin Legislative Assistant & Correspondent
Congressional Representative Ro Khanna. In Photo: Will McKelvey Legislative Assistant, Missy Reller, Arushi and Ayush Pandey
