H. Con. Res. 186 
Agreed to September 30, 2009
One Hundred Eleventh Congress 
of the 
United States of America 
AT THE FIRST SESSION 
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, 
the sixth day of January, two thousand and nine 
Concurrent Resolution 
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; 
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, pre-
venting, 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 chil-
dren 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,
H. Con. Res. 186—2 
research funding, patient services, public awareness, and edu-
cation 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, effective treatments, and prevention pro-
grams: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concur-
ring), That the Congress supports the goals and ideals of Sickle 
Cell Disease Awareness Month. 
Attest: 
Clerk of the House of Representatives. 
Attest: 
Secretary of the Senate.