Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 116 Part 4.djvu/814

 116 STAT. 3242 PROCLAMATION 7545-APR. 19, 2002 not enough organs are available. There are more than 79,500 patients waiting for an organ transplant, and another person joins the waiting list every 13 minutes. My Administration is committed to expanding the organ and tissue program to close this gap. Last year, Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Tommy Thompson assumed leadership of this effort through the "Gift of Life Donation Initiative." This Initiative involves collaboration among businesses and employees to make organ donation information more available. It also includes the development of a national forum on donor registries, a new model donor card, and increased cooperation between HHS, other Federal agencies, and State governments to promote donor awareness. Every day, Americans across our Nation provide help for those in need in countless ways. During this week, we renew our efforts to foster this compassion and to help save lives by promoting organ and tissue donation. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 21 through April 27, 2002, as National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week. I call upon all medical professionals, educators, volunteers, government agencies, and private organizations to join me in raising awareness of the need for organ donors in communities throughout our Nation. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth. GEORGE W. BUSH Proclamation 7545 of April 19, 2002 National Volunteer Week, 2002 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Citizen service has always been a cornerstone of our democracy. Since our founding, Americans have stepped forward to serve the needs of others, strengthen our communities, and defend the freedoms we treasure. Our country and the world continue to see the compassion, strength, and genarosity of Americans in the aftermath of the attacks of September 11, 2001. Volunteers from across the Nation united to help meet the needs of those harmed by the tragic attacks, volunteering their time, their financial resources, and their kindness. The spirit that guided our response to the attacks is still evident in Americans of every age group and background who volunteer their time to enhance the lives of others. These compassionate people work through a broad range of organizations that reflect the diversity of our country, including private charities, faith-based organizations, schools.

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