WASHINGTON - THE youngest Jonas brother took a break from a world tour on Tuesday to lobby Washington's power brokers on behalf of diabetes research. He started with the big guy, President Barack Obama.

Nick Jonas, 16, stopped by the White House for a photo with the president and children who are living with diabetes.

It was his second time at the White House this year. He and brothers Joe and Kevin hung out there with Mr Obama's daughters, Malia and Sasha, on the night of Obama's inauguration.

After the White House, Jonas headed off to Congress for a private meeting at the office of Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg.

'I know some people can become star struck and lose sight of what they're here for, but if Nick Jonas makes juvenile diabetes a cause that people are more aware of, it's worth it,' said Ashley Woolos, an American University student and intern in the office of Representative Richard Neal, also a Democrat.

'A younger face might bring younger fans and the fact that juvenile diabetes is not just an older persons' disease.'

Nick Jonas revealed that he has Type 1 diabetes while performing at a Diabetes Research Institute fundraiser in 2007. He is scheduled to testify on Wednesday before a Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee hearing on federal financing for diabetes research. Other witnesses include boxer Sugar Ray Leonard and actress Mary Tyler Moore.

The Jonas Brothers created the Change for the Children Foundation, which donates money to charities benefiting children who are disadvantaged or ill. -- AP