Title: A resolution expressing support for the designation of September 2020 as "Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month" in order to educate communities across the United States about sickle cell disease and the need for research, early detection methods, effective treatments, and preventative care programs with respect to complications from sickle cell disease and conditions related to sickle cell disease.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution expresses support for the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month and encourages people to hold events and activities to raise awareness about prevention, treatment, and other patient services for those suffering from the disease. (Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder than can lead to pain, anemia, infections, and stroke.)

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 706 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 706

 Expressing support for the designation of September 2020 as ``Sickle 
 Cell Disease Awareness Month'' in order to educate communities across 
the United States about sickle cell disease and the need for research, 
 early detection methods, effective treatments, and preventative care 
  programs with respect to complications from sickle cell disease and 
               conditions related to sickle cell disease.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 17, 2020

Mr. Scott of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. Booker, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, 
Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Brown, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. 
 Cassidy, Mr. Jones, Mr. Braun, Mr. Coons, Mr. Young, Ms. Warren, and 
Mr. Lankford) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
                             and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing support for the designation of September 2020 as ``Sickle 
 Cell Disease Awareness Month'' in order to educate communities across 
the United States about sickle cell disease and the need for research, 
 early detection methods, effective treatments, and preventative care 
  programs with respect to complications from sickle cell disease and 
               conditions related to sickle cell disease.

Whereas sickle cell disease (referred to in this preamble as ``SCD'') is an 
        inherited blood disorder that is a major health problem in the United 
        States and worldwide;
Whereas SCD causes the rapid destruction of sickle cells, which results in 
        multiple medical complications, including anemia, jaundice, gallstones, 
        strokes, restricted blood flow, damaged tissue in the liver, spleen, and 
        kidneys, and death;
Whereas SCD causes acute and chronic episodes of severe pain;
Whereas SCD affects an estimated 100,000 individuals in the United States;
Whereas approximately 1,000 babies are born with SCD each year in the United 
        States, with the disease occurring in approximately 1 in 365 newborn 
        African-American infants and 1 in 16,300 newborn Hispanic-American 
        infants, and can be found in individuals of Mediterranean, Middle 
        Eastern, Asian, and Indian origin;
Whereas more than 3,000,000 individuals in the United States have the sickle 
        cell trait and 1 in 13 African Americans carries 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 an individual with SCD is often severely limited;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported, based on 
        the evidence available as of September 2020, that individuals of all 
        ages who are affected by SCD are at increased risk of developing severe 
        illness from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19);
Whereas, while hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (commonly known as 
        ``HSCT'') is currently the only cure for SCD and advances in treating 
        the associated complications of SCD have occurred, more research is 
        needed to find widely available treatments and cures to help individuals 
        with SCD; and
Whereas September 2020 has been designated as Sickle Cell Disease Awareness 
        Month in order to educate communities across the United States about 
        SCD, including early detection methods, effective treatments, and 
        preventative care programs with respect to complications from SCD and 
        conditions related to SCD: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease 
        Awareness Month; and
            (2) encourages the people of the United States to hold 
        appropriate programs, events, and activities during Sickle Cell 
        Disease Awareness Month to raise public awareness of 
        preventative care programs, treatments, and other patient 
        services for those suffering from sickle cell disease, 
        complications from sickle cell disease, and conditions related 
        to sickle cell disease.
                                 <all>