Burgess’ bipartisan bill would help reduce incidences of gestational diabetes

U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) on June 5 unveiled bipartisan legislation that would provide grants to better understand and reduce gestational diabetes.

Rep. Burgess cosponsored the Gestational Diabetes (GEDI) Act, H.R. 3109, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) to help reduce the incidence of gestational and type 2 diabetes in pregnant women and in children, according to the lawmaker’s office.

“As an OB/GYN in practice for nearly three decades, I saw many women suffer from gestational diabetes and later develop type 2 diabetes,” Rep. Burgess said. “This issue is too important for Congress to ignore.”

If enacted, H.R. 3109 also would direct development of a multi-site gestational diabetes research project with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve surveillance and public health research on gestational diabetes, according to a summary provided by Rep. Burgess’ office.

Additionally, H.R. 3109 would authorize expansion of research focused on investigating gestational diabetes and available treatments and therapies, the summary says.

Rep. Burgess also noted that for almost 10 years, he and Rep. Engel have introduced this bill “to increase preventative measures aimed at slowing the incidence of gestational diabetes.”

“The fight against diabetes is a bipartisan priority,” said Rep. Burgess, “and this legislation, which previously passed the House on a bipartisan basis, should garner widespread support.”

The American Diabetes Association, among others, supports the bill, which has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.