Scott, Booker Sickle Cell Awareness Resolution Passes the Senate

WASHINGTON — This week, a resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) designating September 2024 as Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month unanimously passed the Senate.

Joining Scott and Booker, the resolution was cosponsored by Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.). 

“Sickle cell disease is the most common inherited blood disorder in the U.S., affecting one in every 365 Black newborns,” said Senator Scott. “Yet despite the prevalence of SCD, research and treatments remain far too limited. With the passage of this resolution, we commit to raising awareness and seeking out legislation that will help our medical community fight—and, one day, cure—this painful disease.”

“Sickle cell disease affects an estimated 100,000 individuals in the United States, and is the most common inherited blood disorder in our country,” said Senator Booker.“This disease, which disproportionately affects Black Americans, is at the intersection of both health care justice and racial justice. I am glad to see the passage of this resolution designating Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month – my hope it that it will help educate more people about sickle cell and the urgent need to expand access to quality care and effective treatments for those suffering from this disease. I thank Senator Scott for his collaboration on this important issue.”

Full text of the resolution can be found here. 

BACKGROUND 
This September, Senators Scott and Booker introduced the Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act, which would allow state Medicaid programs to provide comprehensive care to SCD patients through a health home model.

On June 15, 2023, Senator Scott’s Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act of 2023 was approved by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). The legislation reauthorizes the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Demonstration Program beyond fiscal year 2023 through fiscal year 2028. This bill helps to make sure that HRSA has the flexibility to provide technical assistance and educational materials more rapidly to grantees and communities in response to emerging subjects, such as gene therapies to treat individuals with sickle cell disease. On September 23, 2024, the bill was approved by the House of Representatives. 

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