IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 186 
Supporting the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois (for himself, Mr. SHIMKUS, and Mrs. CHRISTENSEN) 
submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
CONCURRENT 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 and 
worldwide; 
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 an estimated 70,000 to 
100,000 Americans; 
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•HCON 186 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 500 newborn Afri-
can-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 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 Congress recognizes the importance of researching, 
preventing, and treating Sickle Cell Disease by author-
izing treatment centers to provide medical intervention, 
education, and other services and by permitting the Med-
icaid program to cover some primary and secondary pre-
ventative 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 
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•HCON 186 IH 
the sickle cell community by focusing its efforts on public 
policy, research funding, patient services, public aware-
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 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-
tive treatments, and prevention programs: Now, there-
fore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That the Congress supports the goals and 
ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month. 
Æ 
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