WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) today called for a greater investment in quality health care for African American communities. She joined Senators Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jim Talent (R-Mo.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) in sending a letter to Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education and Related Agencies Chairman Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Ranking Member Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) to urge them to include at least $4 million in the FY 2007 budget to ensure these communities, largely affected by Sickle Cell Disease, have access to quality health care.

The money would be used to create grants for 40 centers to provide medical treatment, education and other services to SCD patients. The request comes during African American Health Month.

“This country’s health care industry has a history of ignoring African Americans. Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is no exception,” said Senator Mikulski. “That’s why I want to make sure SCD research and education is adequate and that those suffering from this disease get the treatment they deserve. I will continue to fight to make SCD and access to health care a priority in the federal checkbook.”

The text of the letter is below:

April 7, 2006

Dear Chairman Specter and Ranking Member Harkin:  

We appreciate your work in addressing health disparities in the United States.  We share your goal of providing access to quality health care for African-American and other historically underserved communities, and particularly those families living with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).  To achieve this goal, we respectfully request that you include at least $4 million in the Fiscal Year 2007 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations bill for grants to create 40 treatment centers to provide medical treatment, education and other services for SCD patients pursuant to P.L. 108-357.      

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that is a major health problem in the United States, primarily affecting African-Americans.  More than 2.5 million Americans have the sickle cell trait.  SCD occurs in approximately 1 in 300 newborn African-American infants.  The average life span for an adult with SCD is 45 years.  Providing funding for this national program will improve the lives of SCD patients through disease management programs to help them live longer, healthier lives while supporting research toward a comprehensive cure and providing community education about this disease and its treatment options.

We thank you for last year’s appropriation of $2.2 million to help prevent and treat this disease.  This year’s appropriations request has strong bipartisan, bicameral support as well as the support of the Congressional Black Caucus and many other health, children’s, church, union and African-American groups.   

Thank you for considering our request.  We look forward to working with you to fully fund the Sickle Cell Treatment Act (Section 712, P.L. 108-357), which will help African Americans and other historically underserved children and families with SCD live longer, healthier lives.

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