[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 220 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 220

 Recognizing America's Blood Centers and its member organizations for 
  their commitment to providing over half the Nation with a safe and 
     adequate volunteer donor blood supply, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 19, 2005

Mr. Boustany (for himself, Mr. Blunt, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Boyd, Mr. Kildee, 
   Mr. Young of Florida, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Towns, and Mr. Radanovich) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                         on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing America's Blood Centers and its member organizations for 
  their commitment to providing over half the Nation with a safe and 
     adequate volunteer donor blood supply, and for other purposes.

Whereas each year more than 4,500,000 Americans need a blood transfusion, and 
        for over half the need is urgent and lifesaving;
Whereas one out of three people need donated blood in their lifetime, and one 
        out of seven hospital patients need a blood transfusion;
Whereas it is the blood available on a daily basis that saves lives, and 
        volunteer blood donors are required every day to meet patient needs and 
        to be immediately available in times of disaster;
Whereas community blood centers strive year-round to maintain a sufficient blood 
        supply, an urgent task because blood components must be constantly 
        rotated as a result of blood's short 42-day shelf life;
Whereas America's Blood Centers was founded in 1962 and is North America's 
        largest network of community-based, federally licensed, not-for-profit 
        blood centers;
Whereas America's Blood Centers supports member blood centers in conducting 
        donor awareness programs and in addressing blood center quality 
        programs;
Whereas America's Blood Centers has been a national leader in meeting increased 
        national blood supply needs, developing new donor recruitment tools, and 
        making blood donation a societal priority;
Whereas members of America's Blood Centers help each other to avoid blood 
        shortages by sharing of resources and best practices;
Whereas members of America's Blood Centers are currently engaged in developing 
        new tests and new technologies to further assure the safety of the 
        Nation's blood supply and are actively engaged in biomedical research in 
        the area of transfusion medicine;
Whereas member blood centers collect nearly half of the United States blood 
        supply, more than that of any other organization;
Whereas members of America's Blood Centers serve more than 150,000,000 people 
        and operate more than 600 collection sites;
Whereas America's Blood Centers assists its members and other blood 
        organizations in assuring adequate blood supplies for patients in times 
        of disasters;
Whereas America's Blood Centers has developed a ``hub-and-spoke'' system to 
        rapidly respond to any military requirement for blood to support our 
        troops;
Whereas members of America's Blood Centers provide blood products and services 
        to more than 3,300 United States hospitals;
Whereas members of America's Blood Centers were the first to respond to the 
        Oklahoma City bombing, the Columbine shootings, and the 9/11 World Trade 
        Center tragedy and since 9/11 have supported and developed with the 
        Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services proposals 
        to ensure rapid response and adequate blood support in the case of a 
        national disaster or act of terrorism; and
Whereas members of America's Blood Centers support military operations around 
        the globe: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the unique role of America's Blood Centers 
        and its members in--
                    (A) providing life saving blood to patients, 
                including the military in times of war and the Nation 
                in times of disaster;
                    (B) ensuring the safety of that blood supply; and
                    (C) promoting essential blood donor initiatives;
            (2) acknowledges the efforts made by member community blood 
        centers to promote and protect the safety and adequacy of blood 
        components provided to patients; and
            (3) recognizes the need to promote a stable blood supply 
        and increase volunteer participation of blood donors.
                                 <all>