Scott Introduces Resolution Naming September Sickle Cell Awareness Month

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) introduced a bipartisan resolution designating September as Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month to educate communities across the United States about sickle cell disease and the need to combat it. His efforts are joined by Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mike Braun (R-IN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Doug Jones (D-AL), Todd Young (R-IN), and James Lankford (R-OK).

In 2018, Senator Scott’s sickle cell legislation, S. 2465, the Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act, was signed into law. As the one-year anniversary of the bill’s passage approaches, Senator Scott continues to advocate for the sickle cell community.

“Sickle cell disease has been overshadowed for years, but I have hope that through consistent advocacy, we can move towards identifying a cure. For some, this disease can result in a lifetime of pain, and although we have known about it for more than 100 years, treatments continue to be limited,” said Senator Scott. “I am grateful that my bill was signed into law last year, but we have more work ahead of us to ensure that we are able to find a way to fight this disease.”

While the CDC estimates that 100,000 Americans suffer from SCD, the exact figure is unknown due to limited efforts to collect data on the disease. At least 17 innovative therapies (gene, cell, and otherwise) are currently in development to treat SCD, but current treatment options are limited, and access gaps are sure to persist, even as cures and other promising medications come to market.

Read more about Senator Scott’s sickle cell bill HERE.

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