Title: A resolution expressing support for the designation of September 2022 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. Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder than can lead to pain, anemia, infections, and stroke.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 868 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 868

  Expressing support for the designation of September 2022 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

                            December 8, 2022

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing support for the designation of September 2022 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 
        Black or 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 Black or 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 in the United States is 
        often severely limited;
Whereas sickle cell anemia can shorten life expectancy by more than 20 years;
Whereas sickle cell anemia is a common cause of childhood stroke, and, in 2019, 
        fewer than half of children with sickle cell anemia who were 2 to 16 
        years old received the recommended screening for stroke;
Whereas, in 2019, only 2 in 5 children with sickle cell anemia who were 2 to 9 
        years old used recommended medication that can prevent sickle cell 
        anemia complications;
Whereas, in 2020, the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine 
        developed a comprehensive strategic plan and blueprint for action to 
        address sickle cell disease, which, among other things, cited the need 
        for new innovative therapies as well as the need to address barriers 
        that may impact delivery of and access to approved treatments;
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 2022 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 the sickle 
        cell trait, 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.
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