Congresswoman Lee Reintroduces Congressional Resolution Calling For More Sickle Cell Trait Research
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee reintroduced her bipartisan resolution calling for increased efforts for Sickle Cell Trait research and a national campaign to raise awareness about the Sickle Cell Trait, and released the following statement:
“Sickle Cell Disease is our nation’s most commonly inherited blood disorder and affects an estimated 100,000 Americans and disproportionately impacts communities of color.
“More than three million Americans, including one in twelve African Americans and one in a hundred Latinos, carry the sickle cell trait which can lead to sickle cell disease. We must do more to ensure that there is education, awareness, and dedicated resources to combatting this disease.
“Despite advances in screening, we still lack a common strategy for disseminating results and providing education and counseling. I hope this resolution encourages more conversation about how to raise awareness among those living with the Sickle Cell Trait.”
Background: Individuals who carry the Sickle Cell Trait have a 50-50 chance of passing the trait to their children. Individuals with the trait have a 25 percent chance of having a child with Sickle Cell Disease, if their partner is also a carrier of the trait.
View her September 27, 2019 floor speech on the resolution here.
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