[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 172 (Thursday, September 5, 2024)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 72291-72292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20129]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 172 / Thursday, September 5, 2024 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 72291]]


                Proclamation 10800 of August 30, 2024

                
National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, 2024

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Every person in this country deserves to live a healthy 
                and fulfilling life, but nationwide, approximately 
                100,000 Americans have Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)--a 
                painful genetic blood disorder that causes life-
                threatening complications such as strokes, infections, 
                and organ damage. Those living with SCD often have to 
                put the goals and plans of everyday life on hold 
                because of the chronic pain and serious health 
                difficulties associated with it. During National Sickle 
                Cell Awareness Month, we recommit to finding a cure for 
                SCD, supporting those who suffer from the disease, and 
                addressing the health disparities that exist in 
                communities across our Nation.

                From dealing with the costs of expensive medical 
                treatments and unplanned hospital trips to facing 
                stigma and lacking access to health care providers with 
                SCD expertise, many living with the disease face 
                barriers to getting care, and there is no widely 
                available cure. Though SCD impacts people of all 
                backgrounds, it disproportionately affects Black and 
                Hispanic Americans. Many children in the United States 
                living with SCD are not receiving the treatments they 
                need to prevent serious complications, and adults too 
                often struggle with uncoordinated and fragmented care.

                My Administration is working to deliver for people with 
                SCD and their families--and that work begins with 
                following the science to find new, improved treatments. 
                Last year, the Food and Drug Administration approved 
                the first gene therapies to treat those living with SCD 
                and offer long-lasting results for SCD patients. They 
                have also approved new drug therapies that can help 
                people with SCD manage pain. And the National 
                Institutes of Health is working to improve the quality 
                of life for people with SCD. Those efforts include 
                funding clinical trials for SCD pain management, 
                identifying cost-effective drugs to treat SCD, and 
                finding therapies that can lead to a full recovery.

                At the same time, my Administration is working to make 
                treatment for SCD more accessible and affordable to 
                help close health disparities. We are empowering people 
                with SCD on Medicare and Medicaid to have greater 
                access to cell and gene therapy treatments. This will 
                give hope to thousands of Americans with this rare and 
                severe disease while improving health outcomes, 
                increasing access to treatment, and lowering health 
                care costs. The Health Resources and Services 
                Administration (HRSA) is also expanding access to 
                quality care for those with SCD through community-based 
                organizations, ensuring they are taken care of no 
                matter if they are at home or in the hospital. HRSA 
                also provides resources to families whose newborns were 
                diagnosed with SCD from the moment they were screened 
                and throughout their treatment. Additionally, the 
                Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has expanded 
                data collection efforts to better target resources to 
                regions of the United States with the greatest need for 
                SCD support. And the Office of the National Coordinator 
                for Health Information Technology is improving data 
                collection and coordination efforts to drive more 
                effective research, increase integrated care, and 
                improve health outcomes for individuals with SCD and 
                their families.

[[Page 72292]]

                During National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, we 
                recommit to finding better treatments, developing a 
                cure, and celebrating the courage and resilience of all 
                those living with this terrible disease. We also find 
                hope in the health care professionals, researchers, and 
                scientists working tirelessly to find transformative 
                treatments for SCD.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of 
                the United States of America, by virtue of the 
                authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws 
                of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2024 
                as National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. I call upon 
                the people of the United States to learn more about 
                Sickle Cell Disease and the progress we are making to 
                reduce the burden of this disease on our fellow 
                Americans.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirtieth day of August, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                ninth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2024-20129
Filed 9-4-24; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P