NEWS FROM CONGRESSMAN ELIOT ENGEL

ENGEL DENOUNCES RUSSIAN ELECTION AND PUTIN’S ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY

  Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs today made the following statement regarding the Russian presidential election:

“Yet again, Russia has shown its disregard and contempt for democratic values and processes. With this sham election, Vladimir Putin has further stripped Russian citizens of their rights to freely choose their political leadership and government.

“This should not be considered a real election—it was an orchestrated farce to ensure Putin’s continued grip on power. All real alternative candidates were barred from the election, and many Russian voters were forced under threat to vote for Putin. Sadly, this comes as no surprise, as Putin—a dictator in everything but name—continues to tighten his authoritarian hold over Russia. Putin and his cronies have disdain and disrespect for democracy, coupled with a reckless pursuit of power: their malign plotting has disrupted the elections of the United States, our foreign allies, and Russia herself.

“I hope the administration will join me in denouncing this attack on the political rights of Russian citizens and Putin’s continued assault on democratic governance throughout the world.” 

Engel Welcomes Juvenile Diabetes Advocates to Washington

   Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a member of the House Diabetes Caucus and a top member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, last week welcomed NY-16 advocates representing JDRF, an organization that supports type 1 diabetes research.

During the meeting, advocates discussed the importance of robust funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and support for the Special Diabetes Program (SDP), which provides $150 million annually for type 1 diabetes research at NIH.

“I’m proud to represent such dedicated advocates, and to support critical programs like the SDP,” Engel said. “I was pleased to partner with 355 of my House colleagues from both sides of the aisle to call on Congressional leadership to maintain support for the Program, and I have long supported needed boosts to NIH funding. I will keep working to ensure that this critical research continues to bring needed cures to my constituents.”

“We are happy that Congressman Engel continues to support the SDP, which provides $150 million a year to the NIH for type 1 diabetes research,” said Rochelle Waldman, JDRF Board Member and Advocacy Team Chair for the Westchester/Fairfield/Hudson Valley Chapter. “For me personally, the research that the SDP allowed on the artificial pancreas is significant because my daughter is now using this device, which is making a difference in her life and the lives of so many others living with type 1 diabetes.”