H. Res. 1663 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

September 28, 2010. 

Whereas Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited blood disorder 

that is a major health problem in the United States and 

worldwide; 

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 an estimated 70,000 to 

100,000 Americans; 

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 500 newborn African American infants, 1 in 1,000 newborn Hispanic 

Americans, and is found in persons of Greek, Italian, 

East Indian, Saudi Arabian, Asian, Syrian, Turkish, 

Cypriot, Sicilian, and Caucasian origin; 

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

trait, and 1 in 12 African Americans carry the trait; 
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•HRES 1663 EH 

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 Congress recognizes 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 

policy, research funding, patient services, public awareness, 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 Congress 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, effec-
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•HRES 1663 EH 

tive treatments, and prevention programs: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) supports the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month; and 

(2) promotes education of teachers, school nurses, 

and school personnel in educational strategies such as 

distance learning and tutoring that will ensure children 

with Sickle Cell Disease can continue to access and pursue their education. 

Attest: 

Clerk.