Bill Text: TX HCR117 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled


Bill Title: Designating September as Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month for a 10-year period beginning in 2019.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-06-14 - Signed by the Governor [HCR117 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HCR117-Enrolled.html
 
 
  H.C.R. No. 117
 
 
 
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
         WHEREAS, Sickle cell disease is a hereditary genetic mutation
  that causes the body to produce red blood cells with an abnormal
  crescent shape, resulting in impeded blood flow and a shortage of
  healthy red blood cells; and
         WHEREAS, According to the United States Centers for Disease
  Control and Prevention, sickle cell disease affects approximately
  100,000 Americans; the condition is far more common among black or
  African Americans, occurring in about 1 out of every 365
  individuals, and the sickle cell trait is present in 1 in every 13
  black or African American infants at birth; around 1 in every 16,300
  Hispanic American newborns also suffers from the condition; and
         WHEREAS, Although most Americans with the sickle cell trait
  live normal lives with few complications, sickle cell disease can
  potentially lead to anemia, infections, chronic pain, deep vein
  thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and stroke; because severe cases
  can be life-threatening, it is imperative that affected individuals
  have ready access to comprehensive medical care; sadly, inadequate
  infrastructure and socioeconomic factors are responsible for
  considerable disparities in health outcomes for sickle cell
  patients; and
         WHEREAS, The Sickle Cell Anemia Control Act, which was signed
  into law by President Richard Nixon in 1972, aimed to "reverse the
  record of neglect of the dreaded disease" by increasing funding for
  sickle cell disease-related programs; National Sickle Cell Anemia
  Awareness Month was officially recognized by the federal government
  under the administration of President Ronald Reagan in 1983, and
  additional legislative acts focused on advancing the treatment,
  detection, and study of the disease were passed in 2003 and 2018;
  and
         WHEREAS, At this time, there is still no widely available or
  universal cure for sickle cell disease, but researchers are
  currently working to identify new treatments; greater public
  support remains an important tool in the fight against this
  debilitating disorder, and Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month in
  September serves as an opportunity to unite Texans around the goal
  of ensuring that all people with the condition are afforded the care
  that they need; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas
  hereby designate September as Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month;
  and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That in accordance with the provisions of Section
  391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in effect
  until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally
  passed by the legislature.
 
  Johnson of Harris
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.C.R. No. 117 was adopted by the House on May
  3, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 140, Nays 1, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.C.R. No. 117 was adopted by the Senate on May
  22, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor       
feedback