September 27, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 157 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H8060]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      SICKLE CELL AWARENESS MONTH

  (Ms. LEE of California asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight 
September as Sickle Cell Awareness Month and to call for more research 
on the sickle cell trait.
  Today, I am introducing a resolution calling for more sickle-cell 
trained research and public education and awareness on the disease.
  Mr. Speaker, sickle cell disease is America's most commonly inherited 
blood disorder and affects about 100,000 Americans. More than 3 million 
Americans, including 1 in 12 African Americans and 1 in 100 Latinos 
carry the sickle cell trait, which can lead to sickle cell disease.
  For example, one is tested at birth to determine whether they have 
the sickle cell trait, and that is it. Later in life, there are certain 
tests, such as the A1C test, which some are often given to determine 
diabetes. Well, if you have the sickle cell trait, you could get a 
false positive from this test.
  So it is very important that we figure out a way in terms of 
awareness, education, and to dedicate our resources to making sure that 
there are strategies to provide the information for adults so that they 
know that they have the sickle cell trait. Right now, millions of 
people have it and they don't know it.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan 
resolution.

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