Bill Text: NY K00960 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 15-19, 2020, as Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Week in the State of New York

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-07-21 - adopted [K00960 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00960-Introduced.html

---

Assembly Resolution No. 960

BY: M. of A. Rules (Hyndman)

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        June  15-19,  2020, as Sickle Cell Disease Awareness
        Week in the State of New York

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of  this  Legislative  Body  to  recognize
official  weeks  that  are  set  aside  to increase awareness of serious
illnesses that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June  15-19,  2020,  as
Sickle  Cell  Disease  Awareness  Week  in  the  State  of  New York, in
conjunction with the observance of World Sickle Cell  Day  on  June  19,
2020; and

  WHEREAS,  For  40  years,  the  Sickle  Cell  Society has strived to
support and represent people affected by sickle cell disorder to improve
their overall quality of life; and

  WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease is a chronic hereditary blood  disorder
that  can  cause severe pain and result in damage to the brain and other
vital organs like the kidneys, liver, spleen and heart; and

  WHEREAS, People who have the  disease  but  do  not  experience  the
symptoms are said to have the sickle cell trait; currently, an estimated
100,000 Americans are living with the disease; and

  WHEREAS,  Frequent pain caused by sickle cell episodes can result in
necrosis of the hips, knees, ankle and shoulder; there can be entrapment
of blood in the spleen, severe anemia, acute lung  complications  (acute
chest syndrome), priapism in males, and difficult pregnancy for women of
child bearing age; and

  WHEREAS,  These  life-threatening complications can develop rapidly,
including infections of  the  blood  (sepsis),  meningitis  and  stroke;
stroke  can  be  either  silent  (no  overt  symptoms) or clinical (with
symptoms) and can affect children as young as 18 months; and

  WHEREAS, Up to 40% of children will have  had  either  a  silent  or
clinical stroke by the age of 18 and this impacts their ability to learn
and/or hold a job; and

  WHEREAS,  Sickle cell disease is most common in Africans and African
Americans, but the disease can also  be  found  in  other  demographics,
primarily  in  South  and  Central America, the Caribbean, Mediterranean
countries and  India;  approximately  1  in  12  African  Americans  are
diagnosed with the trait; and

  WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease affects approximately 100,000 Americans
and  10%  of  these  patients reside in New York State, and 80% of those
patients live in the New York City area; and

  WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease is the costliest  per  patient  to  New
York State Medicaid, costing $15,000/year/patient; and

  WHEREAS,  The  only  known cure for sickle cell disease is through a
transplant of bone marrow or stem cells; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize  Governor  Andrew  M. Cuomo to proclaim June 15-19, 2020, as
Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Week in the State of New York; and  be  it
further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the  State  of
New York and the Sickle Cell Society.