[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 151 (Tuesday, September 23, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H8716-H8717]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH

  Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Oversight and Government Reform be discharged from further 
consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 1453) supporting the goals and 
ideals of sickle cell disease awareness month, and ask for its 
immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1453

       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 the House of Representatives 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 House of Representatives 
     designate September as Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month in 
     order to educate communities

[[Page H8717]]

     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, That the House of Representatives supports the 
     goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month.

  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________