Supporting the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month.

Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 186, ``Supporting the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month.'' Sickle Cell Anemia affects an estimated 70,000 to 100,000 Americans. Every year 1,000 babies are born with Sickle Cell Disease in the United States, with the disease occurring in approximately 1 in 500 newborn African-American infants. We must educate the public and shed light on this disease, especially considering that there is a 1 in 4 chance that a child born to parents who both have the sickle cell trait will have the disease.

Sickle Cell Anemia is an inherited blood disorder that is a major health problem in the United States and worldwide. It not only affects African Americans, but Hispanics and persons of Greek, Italian, East Indian, Saudi Arabian, Asian, Syrian, Turkish, Cypriot, Sicilian, and Caucasian origin.

Sickle Cell Disease causes the rapid destruction of sickle cells, which results in multiple medical complications such as: pain episodes, strokes, increased infections, leg ulcers, bone damage, yellow eyes or jaundice, early gallstones, lung blockage, kidney damage and loss of body water in urine, priapism, blood blockage in the spleen or liver (sequestration), eye damage, anemia, delayed growth and even death.

Although it cannot be cured, effective treatment is available for persons with sickle cell disease. The trait and the disease are inherited. The most important thing one can do is to make sure to get tested. More than 2,000,000 Americans have the sickle cell trait, and 1 in 12 African-Americans carry the trait.

Although researchers have not yet identified a cure for this painful disease, advances in treating the associated complications have occurred. Once almost exclusively a pediatric illness, research has resulted in early detection and improvements in treatment that have extended life expectancy from the 20s to the mid-40s for many patients. Although the life expectancy of a person with Sickle Cell Disease is severely limited, 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.

I am glad to be able to recognize the Texas Children's Sickle Cell Center for serving over 900 children in the state of Texas and having one of the largest educational programs in the country. The Texas Children's Sickle Cell Center offers comprehensive family-centered care for children with sickle cell disease. The center provides treatment for all aspects of sickle cell disease, offering patient care, education, screening and counseling for afflicted patients and their families. The Sickle Cell Center offers access to new drug therapies for sickle cell disease and its complications. The staff works closely with the neuropsychology, neuroradiology, cardiology and pulmonary departments in order to better understand the pathophysiology and to develop treatment options. I believe we need more facilities like the Texas Children's Sickle Cell Center in order to not only treat those with the disease, but offer services and educational programs to the family as well.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in this Congress to recognize 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. Furthermore, I hope that my colleagues will support designating 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.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 186) supporting the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I'm proud to present House Concurrent Resolution 186 for consideration. This legislation expresses our support for the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month.

The measure before us was introduced on September 16, 2009, by my colleague and good friend, Representative

Danny Davis of Illinois, and favorably reported out of the Oversight Committee on September 24, 2009, by unanimous consent. In addition, this measure enjoys the support of over 70 Members of Congress, and I am proud to say that I am also an original cosponsor.

Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 186 highlights the importance of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month. Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that predominantly affects people of sub-Saharan African ancestry. Today, an estimated 70,000 to 100,000 Americans suffer from this disease, and nearly 1 in 500 African American newborns is born with sickle cell.

Individuals with sickle cell have red blood cells that assume a rigid sickle shape. When these blood cells travel through small blood vessels, they often become stuck and clog blood flow. This causes repeated episodes of severe pain, organ damage, serious infections, and/or anemia.

Tragically, the life expectancy of those with sickle cell is also greatly reduced--42 years for males and 48 years for females. In Africa, more than 90 percent of children with sickle cell die before the illness is even diagnosed.

There is no cure for this illness; although, with careful supervision, individuals with sickle cell can live full and healthy lives. Treatment today is primarily aimed at avoiding crises, relieving symptoms, and preventing complications.

Despite its prevalence and seriousness, little is known publicly about sickle cell disease. For this reason, Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month presents a valuable opportunity to increase public understanding of this illness and to work collectively to find a cure for sickle cell.

In closing, I wholeheartedly support this measure and encourage all my colleagues to join myself and Representative Danny Davis of Illinois in voting in favor of House Concurrent Resolution 186.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I don't have any further speakers on this matter, but I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I thank my colleague, and I also urge all of our friends on both sides of the aisle to join with Congressman Danny Davis, who's the lead sponsor of this measure, to support the ideals and goals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month by voting for House Concurrent Resolution 186.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

This resolution seeks to bring attention to sickle cell disease and to support the designation of September as Sickle Cell Awareness Month.

Sickle cell disease, SCD, is a deadly genetic blood disorder that strikes, primarily, persons of African descent. Those affected by the disease most often appear to be healthy, but their lives are disturbed by sporadic and painful attacks in their arms, legs, chest, and abdomen.

SCD also causes the rapid destruction of sickle cells that results in multiple medical complications, including anemia, jaundice, gallstones, strokes, and restricted blood flow, causing tissue damage, cardiovascular, and organ damage. Approximately 80,000 African Americans suffer from sickle cell disease, and millions are affected worldwide.

Statistics shockingly show that 1 in every 350 African American babies born in the United States has the disease. One in eight African American babies carry the sickle cell trait. There is a one in four chance that a child born to parents who both carry the sickle cell trait will have the disease. Life expectancy is limited, as an average lifespan for an adult with the disease is only 45 years old.

A universal cure, though, remains elusive. However, early diagnosis through newborn screening and education has improved survival and quality of life for those who suffer from SCD. Because SCD affects so many people and research funding is critical to effectively treating and ultimately to preventing the disease, we are grateful for organizations such as the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America that continues to shine the light of hope for all of those who are affected.

Therefore, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting the designation of the month of September as National Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month so that communities throughout the country will become aware of this disease and the need for additional research, effective treatments, and prevention programs that will ultimately lead to a cure.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H. Con. Res. 186, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 186, Supporting the Goals and Ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month. Mr. Speaker, the State of Georgia has over 7,000 individuals, from diverse backgrounds, many of whom are my constituents living in DeKalb County, living with sickle cell anemia. I have tirelessly advocated on their behalf to support the Georgia Comprehensive sickle cell center, which is located at nearby Grady Hospital. While sickle cell anemia is found in more diagnosed at a higher rate among African Americans and Latinos, it has also found among people of Greek, Turkish, and Saudi Arabian descent. I strongly support H. Con. Res. 186 and I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.

Sickle cell anemia is a major health problem that affects millions of people worldwide. More than 70,000 people in the United States have inherited sickle cell anemia, while more than 2 million carry the sickle cell trait, including 1 in 12 African-Americans. There is a 25 percent chance that parents carrying the Sickle Cell trait will pass the disease onto a child. This chronic disease deserves our attention and I applaud the efforts of this Congress to ensure that mire is done.

While there is no widely available cure, the goal of sickle cell disease management is to alleviate the painful symptoms associated with the disease, including gallstones, strokes, tissue, liver, and spleen damage. There has been a glimmer of hope for a small number of those infected; bone marrow transplants have proven to be a successful treatment for the disease. Over the past 30 years, advances in advocacy and awareness, and improvements in medicine have led to increases in early diagnoses, improved disease management, and longer life spans for individuals diagnosed with sickle cell anemia.

It is my hope that in the near future, we can develop a cure for this chronic illness, and ensure that people living with Sickle Cell Anemia live full, productive lives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 186, ``Supporting the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month.''

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects nearly 100,000 Americans. This disease causes red blood cells to mutate and deliver less oxygen to the body. Numerous medical complications result including bone pain, fatigue, fever, jaundice, chest pain, rapid heart rate and ulcers. Most people afflicted with the disease also suffer painful episodes called vaso-occlusive crises, which vary in frequency and severity. Ultimately, this disease limits a person's average life span to just 45 years.

In the United States, while 1 in 1,000 infants are born with the disease, the rate of disease for African-American infants is 1 in 500. The sickle cell disease gene is carried by 2,000,000 Americans, yet this number is 1 in 12 within the African-American community. If both parents of a child have sickle cell, there is a 1 in 4 chance that their child will inherit the disease. Millions of people world-wide suffer from sickle cell disease, and those of African and Caribbean ancestry are primarily affected.

Despite these devastating statistics, a cure has not been found. Researchers are hopeful that if sickle cell disease is properly treated and diagnosed early, it will not interfere with the growth and mental development of afflicted children. Educating our communities about this disease will enable researchers and advocacy organizations to develop effective treatments and ultimately a cure.

I thank Congressman Danny K. Davis for introducing this legislation and look forward to working with my colleagues to raise awareness of sickle cell disease.