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, pri-
marily affecting African-Americans; 
Whereas Sickle Cell Disease causes the rapid destruction of 
sickle cells, which results in multiple medical complica-
tions, 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 dis-
ease occurring in approximately 1 in 300 newborn Afri-
can-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 Dis-
ease 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 dec-
ades, 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 af-
fected children; 
Whereas the House of Representatives recognized the impor-
tance of researching, preventing, and treating Sickle Cell 
Disease by authorizing treatment centers to provide med-
ical 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, research funding, patient services, public aware-
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•HRES 1453 IH 
ness, and education related to developing effective treat-
ments and a cure for Sickle Cell Disease; and 
Whereas the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. 
has requested that the House of Representatives des-
ignate 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 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports 
the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness 
Month. 
Æ 
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