A resolution expressing support for the designation of June 19, 2026, as "World Sickle Cell Awareness Day" in order to increase public awareness across the United States and global community about sickle cell disease and the continued need for empirical research, early detection screenings, novel effective treatments leading to a cure, and preventative care programs with respect to complications from sickle cell anemia and conditions relating to sickle cell disease.
This resolution expresses Senate support for designating June 19, 2026, as World Sickle Cell Awareness Day to raise public awareness about sickle cell disease and promote research, early detection, and treatment development. Sickle cell disease is a serious inherited blood disorder affecting approximately 100,000 people in the United States, with disproportionate impact on African Americans and people from certain regions globally, including sub-Saharan Africa. The resolution acknowledges that while recent FDA-approved gene therapies offer new hope for curing the disease, significant barriers to equitable access remain for vulnerable populations. The Senate commits to supporting newborn screening programs, eliminating treatment access barriers in Medicare and Medicaid, and creating an interagency task force led by the Department of Health and Human Services to develop policies ensuring equitable access to innovative sickle cell therapies. The resolution also calls on the federal government to address healthcare disparities and biases affecting populations most impacted by the disease.
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