[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 137 (Monday, September 17, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S11603]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 46--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF 
                  SICKLE CELL DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH

  Mr. OBAMA submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                            S. Con. Res. 46

       Whereas Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited blood disorder 
     that is a major health problem in the United States, 
     primarily affecting African Americans;
       Whereas Sickle Cell Disease causes the rapid destruction of 
     sickle cells, which results in multiple medical 
     complications, 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 over 70,000 Americans;
       Whereas approximately 1,000 babies are born with Sickle 
     Cell Disease each year in the United States, with the disease 
     occurring in approximately 1 in 300 newborn African American 
     infants;
       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 
     Disease 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 
     decades, 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 affected 
     children;
       Whereas Congress recognized the importance of researching, 
     preventing, and treating Sickle Cell Disease by authorizing 
     treatment centers to provide medical intervention, education, 
     and other services and by permitting the Medicaid program to 
     cover some primary and secondary preventative 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 
     the sickle cell community by focusing its efforts on public 
     policy, research funding, patient services, public awareness, 
     and education related to developing effective treatments 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, effective 
     treatments, and prevention programs: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the Congress supports the goals and ideals 
     of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month.

                          ____________________