Crist, Lee's Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act Gains Momentum, Senate Companion Bill

Press Release

Yesterday, a Senate companion to Congressman Charlie Crist's (D-St. Petersburg) Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act was introduced by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), building momentum towards Congressional passage. In the House, Crist has added additional cosponsors in support of the bill, including Reps. Alma Adams (D-NC), Troy Carter (D-LA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), and Terri Sewell (D-AL). Additionally, a number of leaders in the Sickle Cell and Black Health community, listed below, have endorsed the bill.

H.R. 7177, the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act, introduced by Reps. Crist and Barbara Lee (D-CA) in March, will improve access to treatment, medical care, and quality of life for people suffering from Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). Specifically, the legislation expands the National Health Services Corps (NHSC) to include the study of benign hematology, the specialty under which SCD falls. NHSC provides scholarships and loan repayment assistance as an incentive to attract healthcare providers to specialties where shortages exist.

"Those suffering from Sickle Cell Disease know far too well that the sickle cell community has a resource gap, especially for adult patients and the medical providers who treat them," said Rep. Crist. "That is why the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act is so important -- because this community deserves our full support and it needs doctors who understand the unique needs of sickle cell patients. I'm thrilled that Senators Van Hollen and Booker have joined me in leading the charge on this effort. Let's get this done and save lives!"

"The CDC estimates that at least 3 million people in the United States have the sickle cell trait which can lead to sickle cell disease, including 1 in 12 African Americans and 1 in 100 Latinos," said Rep. Lee. "It's more important than ever that we combat Sickle Cell Disease through comprehensive care and outreach, especially in communities of color and those who are medically underserved. This legislation will encourage more doctors to engage in vital scientific research, outreach, and care for sickle cell patients."

"For too long Sickle Cell Disease has been an overlooked condition, which has left a shortage of medical professionals who can treat it and limited resources for young adults living with it," said Senator Van Hollen. "Our bill will help close gaps in care that Sickle Cell patients often face, by training more doctors in the field and boosting access to comprehensive care and other services for young adults transitioning out of pediatric care. As promising treatments for this disease advance and patients live longer, we need to ensure this care is accessible to all who need it. We shouldn't have to lose any more colleagues, friends, neighbors, or loved ones to this disease -- and I'm committed to making that vision a reality."

"Despite the prevalence of sickle cell disease worldwide and in the United States, treatment options remain scarce and awareness efforts still lag behind other chronic illnesses," said Senator Booker. "This bill will bolster efforts to provide comprehensive care to people with sickle cell disease by offering more resources to hospitals, increasing awareness, and encouraging aspiring doctors to specialize in the field of hematology."

"The Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act (H.R. 7177) is an important piece of targeted legislation that would enable scholarship and loan repayment programs to incentivize physicians to enter into the Sickle Cell Disease research and treatment field. This legislation builds on the recommendations of the National Academies' landmark 2020 report on Sickle Cell Disease and holds promise to help improve access for individuals with the disease", said Dr. Brett Giroir, Senior Advisor, Sickle Cell Disease Partnership. The Sickle Cell Disease Partnership is happy to support this legislation and looks forward to working with Congress to enact it into law."

"The NAACP supports efforts under the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act that would provide grant possibilities and loan repayment assistance to those specializing in the field of benign hematology which supports efforts to treat, prevent, and provide health care education and funding to those who have been stricken with the disease," said Portia Reddick White, NAACP VP of Policy & Legislative Affairs. "We are proud to endorse legislation that seek to bring an awareness and financial support regarding sickle cell anemia."

"Sick Cells is pleased to support the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act of 2022. We hope this will be the first in a series of innovative approaches to improving care and quality of life for individuals living with sickle cell disease across the country," said Sick Cells President & Co-founder Ashley Valentine.

"Progress in the treatment of sickle cell disease in recent years has provided hope and optimism for the future. But significant gaps in access to high-quality care and other barriers continue to plague our community", said C Virginia Fields, President and CEO at Black Health. We are pleased to partner with Congressman Charlie Crist to support this important legislation. We recognize the importance of increasing the awareness in Congress with the hope of bringing about much-needed changes."

"Now is the time for Congress to provide critical funding to help alleviate the disproportionate burden of Sickle Cell Disease on our communities by passing the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act," said Tammy Boyd, Chief Policy Officer and Counsel of Black Women's Health Imperative. "In advancing this fundamental funding measure, we now have the opportunity to deliver the necessary treatment, education and investments to communities desperately in need, especially for people of color who are most impacted by this devastating disease."

Endorsing Organizations: Sickle Cell Disease Partnership (Black Women's Health Imperative, American Society of Hematology, AmeriHealth Caritas, Beam Therapeutics, CSL Behring, Editas Medicine, Global Blood Therapeutics, Graphite Bio, Novartis, Sick Cells, Sickle Cell Community Consortium, Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Vertex), NACCP, National Black Nurses Association, Advancing Sickle Cell Advocacy Project, Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease Research, California Black Health Network, The Sickle Cell Disease Association -- St. Petersburg, Red Moon Project, Uriel E. Owens Sickle Cell Disease Association of the Midwest, and Black Health.