[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 124 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 124

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the importance of organ, 
 tissue, bone marrow, and blood donation and supporting the goals and 
                 ideals of National Donate Life Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 6, 2005

    Mr. Holt (for himself and Mr. Miller of Florida) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                          Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the importance of organ, 
 tissue, bone marrow, and blood donation and supporting the goals and 
                 ideals of National Donate Life Month.

Whereas more than 87,000 individuals await organ transplants at any given 
        moment;
Whereas another man, woman, or child is added to the national organ transplant 
        waiting list every 20 minutes;
Whereas an average of over 70 people receive a transplant every day for a total 
        of more than 25,000 each year;
Whereas despite the progress in recent decades, more than 16 people per day die 
        because of a shortage of donor organs;
Whereas up to 30,000 people each year are diagnosed with leukemia or other blood 
        diseases and approximately 20,000 will not find a marrow donor match 
        within their family and must rely upon strangers;
Whereas nearly 32,000 units of blood are used in the United States every day and 
        blood supply reserves are often low since only 5 percent of the 
        population donates blood regularly;
Whereas one donor can save or enhance as many as 50 lives;
Whereas almost everyone is a potential organ, tissue, bone marrow, or blood 
        donor;
Whereas transplantation has become an element of mainstream medicine that 
        prolongs and enhances life;
Whereas President George W. Bush designated April 2003 as the first National 
        Donate Life Month, a time to raise public awareness of the critical need 
        for organ, tissue, marrow, and blood donation; and
Whereas April 2005 would be an appropriate month to observe a National Donate 
        Life Month: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),  
That the Congress--
            (1) supports the goals and ideas of National Donate Life 
        Month;
            (2) encourages all Americans to learn about the importance 
        of organ, tissue, bone marrow, and blood donation and to 
        discuss such donation with their families and friends; and
            (3) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
        calling on the people of the United States to conduct 
        appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate 
        support for organ, tissue, bone marrow, and blood donation.
                                 <all>