[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 716 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 716

  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
   establishment of a National Blood Reserve, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 9, 2006

    Mr. Cannon (for himself and Mr. Duncan) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
   establishment of a National Blood Reserve, and for other purposes.

Whereas the supply of blood and blood products of the United States is a matter 
        of national security and of national public health importance;
Whereas there is no guarantee that existing blood supplies can meet the needs of 
        victims of domestic disasters or acts of terrorism;
Whereas blood has a short shelf life of only 42 days and must be replenished on 
        a regular basis and must be consistently available to meet the next 
        emergency;
Whereas blood and blood products have been identified by the Department of 
        Health and Human Services as a critical national resource and are vital 
        public health assets that must be readily available at all times, 
        especially in the event of a domestic disaster or acts of terrorism;
Whereas the American Association of Blood Banks Interorganizational Task Force 
        on Domestic Disasters and Acts of Terrorism was formed to assist the 
        Department of Health and Human Services in coordinating a national 
        response to both military and civilian blood supply related issues that 
        may arise during domestic disasters and acts of terrorism;
Whereas at the request of the Department of Health and Human Services, a 
        subgroup of the Interorganizational Task Force, comprised of 
        representatives of the America's Blood Centers, American Association of 
        Blood Banks, American Red Cross, Armed Services Blood Program, and Blood 
        Centers of America developed a proposal for a National Blood Reserve;
Whereas in January 2004, the Department of Health and Human Services Advisory 
        Committee on Blood Safety and Availability strongly endorsed the Task 
        Force proposal for a National Blood Reserve and, in January 2006, 
        recommended that the Secretary of Health and Human Services take 
        immediate steps to formally recognize that maintaining the blood and 
        plasma supply of the United States during an influenza pandemic is a 
        critical part of a national plan to prepare for such an influenza 
        pandemic, and further, that the central role of developing and 
        implementing a national strategy to address potentially massive blood 
        and blood product shortages would be the creation of a National Blood 
        Reserve;
Whereas in July 2004, the Department of Homeland Security also endorsed and 
        supported the establishment of a National Blood Reserve; and
Whereas the Give Life Foundation, one of the Nation's leading blood advocacy 
        groups, has taken steps through a national public/private awareness 
        campaign to coordinate the efforts for the recruitment of regular blood 
        donors in order to maintain a reliable and constant supply of blood and 
        blood products for the National Blood Reserve and for local use: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) acknowledges that blood and blood products are of 
        critical importance to the Nation's health, well-being, and 
        national security;
            (2) acknowledges the need for a continuous replenishment of 
        the Nation's blood supply and of blood products through a 
        National Blood Reserve;
            (3) endorses the United States' participation in blood 
        safety and awareness as part of the World Health Organization's 
        World Blood Donor Day campaign;
            (4) endorses the establishment of a National Blood Reserve 
        in order to meet the needs of our Nation's emergency 
        situations, domestic disasters, and terrorists attacks; and
            (5) recognizes the Give Life Foundation in its pursuit to 
        form public/private partnerships for the coordination of blood 
        donor recruitment programs in order to supplement the National 
        Blood Reserve.
                                 <all>