Congresswoman Speier Encourages Organ and Tissue Donation Registration

Congresswoman Speier Encourages Organ and Tissue Donation Registration

HON. JACKIE SPEIER

OF CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, today, 17 Americans awaiting organ transplants will die because a suitable donor was not available. These will be our mothers, fathers, children, and friends--some of the 100,000 of our fellow Americans on the national organ transplant waiting list. But unlike so many threats that are out of our control, this is something that each of us can change simply by signing up with your state program. Volunteering to be an organ or tissue donor is a simple, painless, and selfless act of love and generosity, the impact of which cannot be understated. A single organ donation can save up to 8 lives and the donation of one person's tissue can save the lives of up to 50 others. Each year, 28,000 men, women and children are saved through organ donation. Despite the 80 million of us who are enrolled in state donor registries, there is still a need for more. Sadly, one-third of those on the national transplant waiting list will likely run out of time before a donor is found. Madam Speaker, in honor of National Donate Life Month, I urge my colleagues, my constituents and my fellow Americans to register as organ and tissue donors.