IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1453 

Supporting the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 17, 2008 

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois (for himself, Mr. SHIMKUS, and Mrs. CHRISTENSEN) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease 

Awareness Month. 

Whereas Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited blood disorder 

that is a major health problem in the United States, primarily affecting African-Americans; 

Whereas Sickle Cell Disease causes the rapid destruction of 

sickle cells, which results in multiple medical complications, including anemia, jaundice, gallstones, strokes, and 

restricted blood flow, damaging tissue in the liver, spleen, 

and kidneys, and death; 

Whereas Sickle Cell Disease causes episodes of considerable 

pain in one’s arms, legs, chest, and abdomen; 

Whereas Sickle Cell Disease affects over 70,000 Americans; 


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•HRES 1453 IH 

Whereas approximately 1,000 babies are born with Sickle 

Cell Disease each year in the United States, with the disease occurring in approximately 1 in 300 newborn African-American infants; 

Whereas more than 2,000,000 Americans have the sickle cell 

trait, and 1 in 12 African-Americans carry the trait; 

Whereas there is a 1 in 4 chance that a child born to parents 

who both have the sickle cell trait will have the disease; 

Whereas the life expectancy of a person with Sickle Cell Disease is severely limited, with an average life span for an 

adult being 45 years; 

Whereas, though researchers have yet to identify a cure for 

this painful disease, advances in treating the associated 

complications have occurred; 

Whereas researchers are hopeful that in less than two decades, Sickle Cell Disease may join the ranks of chronic 

illnesses that, when properly treated, do not interfere 

with the activity, growth, or mental development of affected children; 

Whereas the House of Representatives recognized the importance of researching, preventing, and treating Sickle Cell 

Disease by authorizing treatment centers to provide medical intervention, education, and other services and by 

permitting the Medicaid program to cover some primary 

and secondary preventative medical strategies for children and adults with Sickle Cell Disease; 

Whereas the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. 

remains the preeminent advocacy organization that serves 

the sickle cell community by focusing its efforts on public 

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•HRES 1453 IH 

ness, and education related to developing effective treatments and a cure for Sickle Cell Disease; and 

Whereas the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. 

has requested that the House of Representatives designate September as Sickle Cell Disease Awareness 

Month in order to educate communities across the Nation 

about sickle cell and the need for research funding, early 

detection methods, effective treatments, and prevention 

programs: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports 

2 the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness 

3 Month. 

Æ 


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