[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 167 (Thursday, October 26, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2033-E2034]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E2033]]


   REINTRODUCTION OF THE GIFT OF LIFE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL ACT OF 1995

                                 ______


                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 26, 1995

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, today I take great pride in reintroducing the 
Gift of Life Congressional Medal Act of 1995 along with our colleagues 
Floyd Spence, Joe Moakley, James Walsh, Gerald Kleczka, Nancy Pelosi, 
Karen Thurman, George Brown, Randy Cunningham, Martin Frost, and Victor 
Frazer. I believe the enactment of this legislation will not only honor 
the individual organ donor and their loved ones, but will also heighten 
the awareness of the organ shortage--ultimately resulting in more organ 
donation.
  Despite the numerous problems that organ donation programs have faced 
and conquered over the years, a major problem still exists--an 
undersupply of available and suitable organ donors.
  Currently, there are 40,000 individuals waiting for an organ 
transplant in the United States. A new name is added to the national 
patient waiting list approximately every 18 minutes. Last year alone, 
more than 3,000 adults and children died while waiting for an organ. 
Just yesterday, approximately eight individuals, suitable for a 
transplant operation, died while waiting for a transplantation.
  The demand for organs will continue to grow with the improvement of 
medical technologies, and without expanded efforts to increase the 
supply of organ donation, the supply of suitable organs will continue 
to lag behind the need.
  According to some researchers, it may be possible to increase by 80 
percent the number of organ donations in the United States through 
incentive programs and public education. A congressional medal 
recognizing donors and their families can play a very important and 
effective role in our efforts to encourage such donation.
  Our proposed Gift of Life Medal Program will be administered by 
regional organ procurement organizations (OPOs) and managed by the 
entity administering the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. 
Once the very difficult decision to donate an organ has been made, the 
donor or the family member of the donor will be asked by the regional 
OPO whether participation in the Gift of Life Medal Program is desired. 
The OPO will give each donor or family of the donor the option of 
receiving a Gift of Life Medal, recognizing that some donors and 
families may not want to participate. If the donor or the family of a 
donor requests, a public presentation will be made to honor the donor. 
A presentation by a local official, community leader or Member of 
Congress would be a tremendous opportunity to increase the awareness 
concerning the desperate need for organ donation.
  Every action has been taken to insure that the issuance of the Gift 
of Life Medals results in no net cost to the Government. In addition, I 
am proud to report that the legislation has the strong support of the 
United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) and the National Kidney 
Foundation.
  It is with great pleasure that I ask our colleagues to join with us 
as cosponsors of the Gift of Life Congressional Medal Act of 1995 and 
recognize the enormous faith and courage displayed by organ donors and 
their families. They offer others a second chance by providing the most 
precious gift imaginable--the gift of life.

                                 H.R.--

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Gift of Life Congressional 
     Medal Act of 1995''.

     SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL.

       The Secretary of the Treasury shall design and strike a 
     bronze medal with suitable emblems, devices, and 
     inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary of the 
     Treasury, to commemorate organ donors and their families.

     SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) In General.--Any organ donor, or the family of any 
     organ donor, shall be eligible for a medal described in 
     section 2.
       (b) Documentation.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services shall direct the entity holding the Organ 
     Procurement and Transplantation Network (hereafter in this 
     Act referred to as ``OPTN'') to contract to--
       (1) establish an application procedure requiring the 
     relevant organ procurement organization, as described in 
     section 371(b)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     273(b)(1)), through which an individual or their family made 
     an organ donation, to submit to the OPTN contractor 
     documentation supporting the eligibility of that individual 
     or their family to receive a medal described in section 2; 
     and
       (2) determine, through the documentation provided, and, if 
     necessary, independent investigation, whether the individual 
     or family is eligible to receive a medal described in section 
     2.

     SEC. 4. PRESENTATION.

       (a) Delivery to the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall deliver medals 
     struck pursuant to this Act to the Secretary of Health and 
     Human Services.
       (b) Delivery to Eligible Recipients.--The Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services shall direct the OPTN contractor to 
     arrange for the presentation to the relevant organ 
     procurement organization all medals struck pursuant to this 
     Act to individuals or families that, in accordance with 
     section 3, the OPTN contractor has determined to be eligible 
     to receive medals under this Act.
       (c) Limitation.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), only 
     1 medal may be presented to a family under subsection (b).
       (2) Exception.--In the case of a family in which more than 
     1 member is an organ donor, the OPTN contractor may present 
     an additional medal to each such organ donor or their family.

     SEC. 5. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     or the OPTN contractor may provide duplicates of the medal 
     described in section 2 to any recipient of a medal under 
     section 4(b), under such regulations as the Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services may issue.
       (b) Limitation.--The price of a duplicate medal shall be 
     sufficient to cover the cost of such duplicates.

     SEC. 6. NATIONAL MEDALS.

       The medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals 
     for purposes of section 5111 of title 31, United States Code.

     SEC. 7. GENERAL WAIVER OF PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS.

       No provision of law governing procurement or public 
     contracts shall be applicable to the procurement of goods or 
     services necessary for carrying out the provisions of this 
     Act.

     SEC. 8. SOLICITATION OF DONATIONS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Treasury may enter 
     into an agreement with the OPTN contractor to collect funds 
     to offset expenditures relating to the issuance of medals 
     authorized under this Act.
       (b) Payment of Funds.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), all 
     funds received by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation 
     Network under subsection (a) shall be promptly paid by the 
     Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network to the 
     Secretary of the Treasury.
       (2) Limitation.--Not more than 5 percent of any funds 
     received under subsection (a) shall be used to pay 
     administrative costs incurred by the OPTN contractor as a 
     result of an agreement established under this section.
       (c) Numismatic Public Enterprise Fund.--Notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law--
       (1) all amounts received by the Secretary of the Treasury 
     under subsection (b)(1) shall be deposited in the Numismatic 
     Public Enterprise Fund, as described in section 5134 of title 
     31, United States Code; and
       (2) the Secretary of the Treasury shall charge such fund 
     with all expenditures relating to the issuance of medals 
     authorized under this Act.
       (d) Start-Up Costs.--A 1-time amount not to exceed $55,000 
     shall be provided to the OPTN contractor to cover initial 
     start-up costs. The amount will be paid back in full within 3 
     years of the date of the enactment of this Act from funds 
     received under subsection (a).
       (e) No Net Cost to the Government.--The Secretary of the 
     Treasury shall take all actions necessary to ensure that the 
     issuance of medals authorized under section 2 results in no 
     net cost to the Government.

     SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.

       For purposes of this Act--
       (1) the term ``organ'' means the human kidney, liver, 
     heart, lung, pancreas, and any other human organ (other than 
     corneas and eyes) specified by regulation of the Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services or the OPTN contractor; and
       (2) the term ``Organ Procurement and Transplantation 
     Network'' means the Organ Procurement and Transplantation 
     Network established under section 372 of the Public Health 
     Service Act (42 U.S.C. 274).
     
[[Page E2034]]


                         TRIBUTE TO BILL MILANO

                                 ______


                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 25, 1995

  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Bill Milano of Pittsburg, CA, who was honored by his brothers and 
sisters in the labor community and the city of Pittsburg last Saturday, 
October, 14, 1995, when the United Steelworkers Union Local 1440 
renamed its union hall for him, their founder and distinguished leader.
  First and always, Bill Milano is a union man who grew up in the coal 
mines of Kansas and moved west to work in the steel mills of Pittsburg, 
CA. He is the very heart and soul of the United Steelworkers Local 
1440, having served in every possible capacity for over 50 years. Even 
in retirement, he is a constant source of pride, enthusiasm, and 
inspiration for his fellow union members.
  Not only is Bill Milano a leader in union halls, he has also served 
his community with distinction and honor as a former member of the 
Pittsburg City Council, founder and member of the Pittsburg Boys club, 
and service to the Pittsburg Red Cross, Pittsburg Community Hospital, 
Contra Costa Park and Recreational Council, Pittsburg Schools PTA 
organizations, Pittsburg Lions Club, Boy Scout troops, American Cancer 
Society and many, many more community service organizations. His long-
time support of Ducks Unlimited and his keen interest in hunting is 
legendary among his family and friends.
  I grew up hearing about Bill Milano from my father and how he 
organized local party politics in Pittsburg at a time when only shoe 
leather and hard work got your people elected to office. Bill Milano 
supported my father in his campaigns for the California State Senate, 
as well as my elections to the U.S. House of Representatives. He has 
been a friend of our family for three generations, and I am proud to 
call Bill Milano my friend.
  I would like to share with my colleagues the attached article from 
the Ledger Dispatch, Wednesday, October 4, 1995, ``Bid for Better Life 
Lead to Long Union Career.''

                [From the Ledger Dispatch, Oct. 4, 1995]

              Bid For Better Life Led to Long Union Career

                           (By Sam Richards)

       Pittsburg, CA.--Bill Milano came to Pittsburg on a freight 
     train in 1939, looking for a better life for his family.
       Now, almost two decades after retiring from his job as 
     financial secretary of United Steelworkers Local 1440, Milano 
     will have his name attached to the Steelworkers' building in 
     Cumberland Street.
       For a guy who has spent the past 53 years either working or 
     volunteering at the union hall, a guy who helped oversee 
     tremendous growth of the local during World War II, and then 
     saw the union shrink again as local steel employment declined 
     . . . is this honor a surprise?
       Yes, in a way, the 82-year-old Milano said.
       ``I've been retired 17 years and they've never done a damn 
     thing to honor me,'' said Milano, with a smile on his face. 
     ``But I never really pursued that anyway.''
       Milano's time has finally come. Local 1440 will formally 
     rename their building after Milano at a ceremony Oct. 14 at 
     the building, 677 Cumberland Ave. Everyone is invited to 
     attend that, and a reception following at the Marina 
     Clubhouse, 31 Marina Blvd.
       ``This isn't just any man . . . this is the man,'' said 
     Rose Cavallaro, office secretary for Local 1440 since 1959. 
     ``He's the `godfather' of the local union; he's the one who 
     got the union going.''
       Milano grew up in Kansas, and was working in the coal mines 
     there in strip mine shafts and driving a steam locomotive 
     shuffling coal hopper cars. But he wanted something better 
     for his family.
       ``The coal mines just weren't working too good,'' he said. 
     ``We'd heard a lot about California, so we went to 
     California.''
       Without enough money to take a passenger train, Milano and 
     a friend hopped a Frisco Railway freight train near Cherokee, 
     Kan., Aug. 14, 1939. A week later, they arrived in Pittsburg 
     on a Santa Fe freight train. Within days, both were working 
     at the Columbia Steel Co. mill, Milano as a ``reeler'' 
     putting steel wire onto reels to be galvanized.
       Also, Milano found the local union office quickly.
       ``I'd had `union' drilled into me by my dad and everyone 
     around me for years,'' Milano said. ``The first thing I did 
     was go down to the union.''
       In 1942, he was elected 1440's financial secretary, a post 
     he held until 1979. During that time, he saw the union change 
     from the Steelworkers Organizing Committee to the United 
     Steelworkers Union of America. Milano also oversaw wartime 
     expansion at Columbia Steel swell union membership from about 
     265 to more than 4,000.
       Milano also plunged into community involvement in 
     Pittsburg. He served on the City Council from 1944 until 
     1952, helped found the Pittsburg Boys Club (the predecessor 
     of the East County Boys and Girls Club), was a secretary for 
     the Contra Costa Grand Jury and numerous other civic, 
     fraternal and local school activities.
       His wife, Virginia died in 1990. And the USS-POSCO 
     Industries plant in Pittsburg employees number fewer than 
     1,000 people now. But he is still involved with Local 1440 
     activities.
       ``Anytime there's something wrong here down at the union, 
     Bill gets involved,'' said Carl Meilicke, 43, a former U.S. 
     Steel employee in Pittsburg. ``He started the union, and he 
     knows more about it than anyone.''
       The union hall opened in the 1940s. It almost didn't 
     outlast Milano, because the city had wanted to knock it down 
     as part of redevelopment in 1992.
       As it was. The Village at New York Landing housing tract 
     was literally built around the union hall, which also 
     includes the Union Club tavern.
       ``If you start pushing us, we'll get the whole rank and 
     file coming after you'' Cavallaro said. ``We're never going 
     to leave this building now.''
       Still a hunter and fisherman, Milano gave up abalone diving 
     only two years ago. But he hasn't given up being involved in 
     politics; in keeping with union tradition, he's supported, 
     almost exclusively, Democrats over the years. This includes 
     three generations of George Millers, including. Assembly 
     candidate George Miller IV . . . sort of.
       ``I know him and I'm friends with Tom Torlakson (Miller's 
     election opponent),'' Milano said. ``I told them, `Whoever 
     wins the primary, I'll put my full weight behind you.'''
       Tickets to the Bill Milano Building's dedication are $10 
     each, and are available by call 432-7396.

                          ____________________