COBLE TO RECEIVE AWARD FROM AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION

To thank him for his efforts at ending discrimination against people with diabetes who seek employment as commercial drivers, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) plans to honor U.S. Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC) next week in a ceremony in Greensboro. Congressman Coble was a co-author of legislation attached to the recently-passed highway bill that eliminates a blanket ban on anyone with insulin-treated diabetes from applying for a commercial driver’s license and replaces it with a system where each person’s case can be reviewed with a medically-sound individual assessment.

The ADA plans to present Rep. Coble with its Distinguished Leadership Award next week in his congressional district office:

Wednesday, August 24, 2005
10 a.m.
2102 North Elm Street
Greensboro, NC


“Our nation’s trucking laws should reflect our current knowledge of diabetes and the current practice of diabetes management,” said Lawrence T. Smith, Chair of the Board of the American Diabetes Association, and who will travel to Greensboro to present the award. “This congressional action is a win-win that will prevent discrimination against people with insulin-treated diabetes while also providing additional commercial truck drivers for industry. Congressman Coble deserves credit for his tireless work on this issue and for standing up for people with diabetes.”

Joining Mr. Smith at the presentation ceremony will be: Robert Sevier, MD, of Greensboro, who is a member of the ADA’s Board of Directors; John Bowdish, a member of the ADA’s National Advocacy Committee; Steve Martin, the Chair of the ADA’s Eastern North Carolina Leadership Council; Ed Barber, a member of the Eastern North Carolina Leadership Council; and Diane Newby, an ADA volunteer from Greensboro.

Congressman Coble said he will be honored to receive the ADA’s Distinguished Leadership Award. “More than 18 million Americans are living with diabetes today,” Rep. Coble noted, “and the estimate is that one in three Americans born in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime. There is no reason to have a blanket ban on those who are eligible from applying for a commercial driver’s license. Each person’s case can now be reviewed on an individual basis and those who are medically-cleared will be able to apply for a commercial driver’s license. This is basic common sense and basic fairness to those who have suffered enough by contracting diabetes in the first place.”

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