SENATE RESOLUTION 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...; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 161
(Senate - September 17, 2020)
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[Page S5713]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 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
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:
S. Res. 706
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.
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