How It All BeganChildren's Congress began a few years ago, when nine-year-old Tommy Solo, from Boston, asked his mother, "Why can't kids go to Washington and tell their representatives about living with diabetes, and that we want scientists to find a cure?"

One year later, in 1999, Tommy joined 99 other kids, ages 2 to 17, from every state in the country to do just that. Soon, Tommy and the other junior "delegates" were appearing on national TV as they all sang a hopeful song on the Capitol steps. Later on, five of the children testified at a hearing in front of many celebrities and officials.

Since the time that Tommy first asked his mom that important question in Boston, many famous personalities, such as JDRF International Chairman Mary Tyler Moore and Stuart Little's Jonathan Lipnicki, have donated their time and their help to the event. In 2003 200 kids participated in the excitement of the Children's Congress.