Washington, D.C. — Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, and Rep. Danny Davis (D- IL) released the following statement after the House passed S. 2465, Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act of 2018. For several years, Reps. Burgess and Davis have partnered together to introduce bipartisan legislation in the House to combat this deadly disease.

“As a physician who cared for patients with sickle cell disease at Parkland Hospital, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating effect it can have. The Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act provides an important step forward in ensuring that we have the resources to better understand this disease and to maintain access to services for those affected by it,” said Dr. Burgess. “I am grateful to Congressman Davis and Senators Scott and Booker for their leadership on this issue, and I encourage President Trump to sign this lifesaving law expeditiously.” 

“This bipartisan legislation remains a health care priority because more than two million Americans, mostly of African descent, have the Sickle Cell trait and more than 70,000 have Sickle Cell Disease (SCD),” said Rep. Davis. “Every year 130 additional Illinois children are diagnosed with SCD.  It has been my privilege to partner with Dr. Burgess on finding critical new resources to further research and treatment of Sickle Cell since 2003. With the passage of this legislation today we are helping to extend lives and move science closer to a real cure.”

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