[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1877]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING SICKLE CELL DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 28, 2010

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I support H. Res. 1663, a bill 
supporting the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month. 
In 1983, Congress first recognized September as the month to nationally 
commemorate sickle cell disease awareness. And it is in that same vein 
today that I ask for support of H. Res. 1663.
  More than 2.5 million Americans have the sickle cell trait. The 
sickle cell trait is found in 1 of 12 African Americans. There is a 1 
in 4 chance that a child born to parents who both have the Sickle Cell 
Trait will develop the sickle cell disease. The average life span for 
an adult with the sickle cell disease is 45 years.
  Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder characterized by 
affected red blood cells that mutate into the shape of a crescent or 
sickle, and as such are unable to pass through small blood vessels. It 
is a recessive genetic condition that occurs when a child inherits two 
sickle cell genes- or traits- from each parent. The horrific outcomes 
of this condition include considerable pain in one's arms, chest, legs 
and abdomen, anemia, gallstone, strokes, as well as damaging tissue in 
the liver, spleen, kidney, and death. The sickle cell disease primarily 
affects African-Americans and other ethnic groups.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also just note that the devastation of this 
disease on those who are affected by it is, indeed, tremendous. I have 
had firsthand experience with it by virtue of having run a sickle cell 
community education project for the University of Illinois in Chicago 
and came in contact with many of the patients and their families; saw 
the pain and suffering firsthand.
  I would urge all my colleagues to support the passage of this 
resolution.

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