April 11, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 63 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page S2441]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 162--SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF APRIL 2019 AS 
                     ``NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH''

  Ms. WARREN (for herself and Ms. Collins) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 162

       Whereas, in April 2019, more than 113,000 individuals were 
     on the official waiting list for organ donation managed by 
     the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network established 
     under section 372 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     274) (referred to in this preamble as the ``national 
     transplant waiting list'');
       Whereas, in 2018, 36,529 transplant procedures were 
     performed in the United States with organs from 10,721 
     deceased donors and 6,841 living donors, yet on average, 20 
     people die each day while waiting for an organ donation;
       Whereas more than 150,000,000 people in the United States 
     are registered to be organ and tissue donors, yet the demand 
     for donated organs outweighs the supply of organs made 
     available each day;
       Whereas, in 2018, a record was set for the number of organ 
     transplants performed in a single year, for the sixth 
     consecutive year, yet every 10 minutes, 1 person is added to 
     the national transplant waiting list;
       Whereas organ donation from a single deceased donor can 
     benefit up to 8 individuals, and tissue donation from a 
     single deceased donor can benefit an additional 75 
     individuals;
       Whereas a living donor can donate a kidney or a portion of 
     a lung or the liver to save the life of another individual; 
     and
       Whereas April is traditionally recognized as ``National 
     Donate Life Month'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the designation of April 2019 as ``National 
     Donate Life Month'';
       (2) supports the goals and ideals of National Donate Life 
     Month;
       (3) supports promoting awareness of organ and tissue 
     donation by increasing public awareness;
       (4) encourages States, localities, and territories of the 
     United States to support the goals and ideals of National 
     Donate Life Month by issuing a proclamation to designate 
     April as ``National Donate Life Month'';
       (5) commends each individual who--
       (A) is a registered organ donor who may have a positive 
     effect on the life of another individual; or
       (B) indicates a wish to become an organ and tissue donor;
       (6) acknowledges the grief of families who face the loss of 
     loved ones and commends the families who, in their grief, 
     choose to donate the organs and tissues of deceased family 
     members;
       (7) recognizes the generous contribution made by each 
     living individual who has donated an organ or tissue to save 
     and enhance the life of another individual;
       (8) acknowledges the advances in medical technology that 
     have enabled organ transplantation with organs donated by 
     living individuals to become a viable treatment option for an 
     increasing number of patients;
       (9) commends the medical professionals and organ donation 
     and transplantation experts who have worked to improve organ 
     donation of deceased and living individuals and to increase 
     the number of deceased and living donors, thus saving more 
     lives; and
       (10) salutes each individual who has helped to give the 
     gift of life by supporting, promoting, and encouraging organ 
     and tissue donation.

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