Cicilline Recognizes Newport's Dylan Burke for Diabetes Activism

U.S. Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) had the pleasure of meeting Dylan Burke, who represented Rhode Island at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Children’s Congress in Washington, DC. Congressman Cicilline was able to bring Dylan onto the floor of the House of Representatives in order to honor his activism.

The Congressman delivered the following speech in Dylan’s honor:

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Emilie Gordon and Dylan Burke, young advocates in the fight to cure type 1 diabetes.

Emilie and Dylan are making a significant impact on the research for diabetes, and their work will benefit future generations. That's because they are both delegates representing Rhode Island in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Children's Congress gathered here in Washington this week, and they are with us on the floor today. 

Emilie, of Lincoln, Rhode Island, and Dylan, of Newport, Rhode Island, are working to raise public awareness of the critical need for diabetes research to eliminate this disease. Diagnosed at 17 months old, Emilie has known diabetes for most of her life and doesn't view herself as different from other children. And Dylan has seen firsthand some of the complications of type 1 diabetes since his father also has the disease.

The work that Emilie and Dylan are performing during the Children's Congress is critical to the nearly 26 million Americans who have diabetes. I commend and congratulate them for overcoming great obstacles to work towards a cure that will improve and save lives in generations to come.

Click to read Patch's earlier story on Burke's work with the JDRF.