June 22: Congresswoman Kaptur Met with Recording Artist Crystal Bowersox and Toledo Teenager William Beebe as Part of the JDRF's "Children’s Congress."

Ms. Bowersox, the 2010 runnerup on American Idol, and Mr. Beebe, an entering freshman at St. John's Jesuit High School, lobbied Congresswoman Kaptur to support federal research into better treatments and a cure for type 1 diabetes.

"Everyone knows someone with diabetes—a relative, a neighbor or a co-worker. We cannot rest until we find a solution to improve the quality of life for millions of people," said Kaptur. "It's not only the right thing to do—it will also save billions of dollars in medical care. I commend William and Crystal for carrying the cause of diabetes research to the highest levels."

The "Children's Congress" is a biennial three-day event that brings together youth delegates from the around America to share their experiences and lobby federal officials. The delegates participated in a town hall meeting on Tuesday that featured testimonials diabetics from the sports world and entertainment industry who have overcome the challenges to flourish in their chosen fields.

Bowersox, the Elliston native whose career as a musician skyrocketed after gaining national exposure on the FOX network, accompanied Mr. Beebe as delegates fanned out across Capitol Hill.

Bowersox and the "Children's Congress" delegates told lawmakers about the personal impact that diabetes has made on their bodies and their lives.

They urged Congresswoman Kaptur and other federal officials to take action to accelerate the regulatory process at the Food and Drug Administration for review of the artificial pancreas systems, which hold the promise of transforming the lives of type 1 diabetics. They also advocated for continued federal research and thanked Congress for renewing last December the Special Diabetes Program, which accounts for one third of all federal research into type 1.

Type 1 diabetes is a potentially-fatal autoimmune disease that affects as many as three million children and adults in America. Until a cure if found, people with type 1 diabetes must test their blood sugar and give themselves insulin injections multiple times every day—or use an insulin pump. Even with such intensive care, insulin is no cure for diabetes, nor does it prevent complications that can include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke and amputation.