Sen. Talent sponsored the Sickle Cell Treatment Act, now law, with Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to provide increased funding for sickle cell treatment and research. Sen. Talent worked on the legislation with Dr. Michael DeBaun, Director of the Sickle Cell Disease Medical Treatment and Education Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital.
The comprehensive health care legislation was supported by the American Medical Association, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), the NAACP and the Sickle Cell Disease Association.