08 HR
1275/CSFA
House
Resolution 1275 (COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE) (AM)
By:
Representatives Frazier of the
123rd,
Williams of the
89th,
Bruce of the
64th,
Gardner of the
57th,
Buckner of the
130th,
and others
A
RESOLUTION
Creating
the House Sickle Cell Anemia Study Committee; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
Sickle cell anemia is a lethal disease caused by a recessive gene in a carrier
parent; and
WHEREAS,
children with sickle cell anemia may experience serious complications which
include fatigue, fever, difficulty breathing, excruciating pain, stroke, leg
ulcers, and premature death; and
WHEREAS,
the disease causes damage to most organs including the spleen, kidney, and liver
which also makes sickle cell disease patients, especially young children, easily
overwhelmed by bacterial infections; and
WHEREAS,
two carrier parents have a one in four chance of having a child with the
disease; and
WHEREAS,
while African Americans have the highest incidence of sickle cell disease in the
U.S., Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Indian, Greek, and Caucasian persons may also
carry the sickle cell trait or have sickle cell disease; and
WHEREAS,
there are currently 70,000 Americans with sickle cell disease and hundreds more
are diagnosed each year; and
WHEREAS,
about 2 million Americans carry the sickle cell trait and about 1 in 12 African
Americans has the trait; and
WHEREAS,
despite many attempted treatments for sickle cell anemia, there is currently no
universal cure for the disease; various approaches are being sought for
preventing sickling episodes as well as for the complications of sickle cell
disease; and
WHEREAS, there is a tremendous need for educating people about this tragic disease and especially the need for testing prior to pregnancy as an essential component of preventing new cases of children with sickle cell anemia.
WHEREAS, there is a tremendous need for educating people about this tragic disease and especially the need for testing prior to pregnancy as an essential component of preventing new cases of children with sickle cell anemia.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that there is created
the House Sickle Cell Anemia Study Committee to be composed of six members of
the House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall
appoint the members of the committee and shall designate one of such members as
chairperson. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the
committee.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the
conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and
recommend any actions or legislation which the committee deems necessary or
appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such
times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and
effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and
purposes of this resolution. The members of the committee shall receive the
allowances authorized for legislative members of interim legislative committees
but shall receive the same for not more than three days unless additional days
are authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this
resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the House of
Representatives. In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and
recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report
shall be made on or before December 31, 2008. The committee shall stand
abolished on December 31, 2008.