The JDRF 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 JDRF families, Members of Congress, and Congressional staffers energize everyone involved to continue pushing for a cure for T1D,” says Eric Kendall, JDRF Bay Area Community Advocacy Co-Chair.

“A highlight in each meeting is listening to the personal stories of each advocate. Being a JDRF advocate is an engaging way to participate in finding a cure for T1D. Please sign up,” says Missy Reller, JDRF 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:

• • 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 JDRF Advocates who led these meetings! Click here to sign up to be a JDRF Advocate to find out more about how you help influence your government to help end this disease.