[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 48 (Tuesday, April 22, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3399-S3400]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      ORGAN DONATION STATUS REPORT

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today on the occasion of National 
Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week. I rise to challenge all of us to 
take actions that will eliminate the chronic shortage of organs 
available for transplant in the United States.
  Mr. President, this Nation faces a severe organ shortage. I have 
talked about this issue several times on the Senate floor. Last year at 
this time when I talked about it, at least eight people in America 
every day were dying while waiting for organ transplants. One year 
later, tragically, the figures are even worse. Today, 10 people now die 
every day while waiting for organs.
  Mr. President, these numbers are certainly very distressing. They are 
devastating because the technology to save these men, women, and 
children is available. It is there. If you ask our expert on this 
issue, and the Senate's expert, Dr. Frist from Tennessee, he will tell 
us that these people can be saved. These 10 people who die every day 
could have been saved. The technology is there. Medical science has 
advanced that far. But they die because there are simply not enough 
available organs. That is a tragedy, Mr. President,
  In January 1996, there were almost 44,000 patients in this country 
waiting for an organ transplant. One year later, the figure is up to 
51,000 individuals who are today waiting--up 7,000 from just a year 
ago.
  The need for transplantable organs has increased in all categories. 
These aren't just statistics, not just numbers, not just longer and 
longer lists. These are people. These are children, friends, and 
families that love them, and that pray every day that there will be a 
chance for that loved one to live--that there will be an organ that is 
available for that child, that parent, that husband, or that mother.
  I think that we have to ask ourselves what we can do about this. What 
can we do about this as individuals and as elected officials?
  As private citizens, when we go to get our driver's license for the 
first time, or when we go to get it renewed, we are asked sometimes 
very quickly, ``Do you want to donate your organs in case of an 
accident, in the case of your death?'' We all need to say yes when that 
question is asked. We can also, and should, encourage our relatives and 
friends to do the same thing. As Americans, we need to talk about this 
issue. As families we need to talk about this issue before tragedy 
strikes.
  This is not a subject that anyone of us likes to discuss. But it is 
very important that we do so because our willingness to discuss it now, 
our willingness as a people to be open and to organize a donation is 
really a matter of life and death.
  My wife, Fran, and I faced this issue when our daughter, Becky, was 
killed almost 4 years ago. This was not something that we had thought 
about really. It was not something that we had talked about as a 
family. When we were asked the question whether we would do this or 
not, my wife, Fran, turned to me, and said, ``You know that is what 
Becky would have wanted us to do.'' So we did it.
  I think, Mr. President, that most people would want their loved ones 
to do the same thing. Too often the survivors--people who are faced 
with life's most horrible tragedy--just do not want to do it. They do 
not know that the loved one would have wanted them to do it.

  So I think by talking about this we will increase the number of 
organs that are available, and we will, in fact, save lives.
  I think too often that the No. 1 obstacle to life-saving organ 
donation is simply that lack of awareness. People simply aren't aware 
of the huge difference--the life-saving difference that they can make 
in someone else's life. They don't think about it. They don't talk 
about it. And that is natural. But that is why the decision to donate 
the organs of a loved one sometimes is a very difficult decision. But I 
think when people talk about it that it will be made much easier.
  As elected officials, we in this Chamber have another responsibility. 
I believe that we must take this message to the American people. 
Educational efforts have, of course, already begun.
  Thanks to the leadership of our colleague, Senator Dorgan, 
information about organ donations is being enclosed with Federal income 
tax refunds that are going out this year. It is estimated that 70 
million individuals will receive these refunds. So information 
contained in those envelopes is going out.
  Further, today I sent a letter to Postmaster General Runyon asking 
him to approve a ``Gift of Life'' postage stamp as soon as possible. 
Mr. President, I have been talking to the Postmaster General's office 
for more than a year now about this issue because I am firmly convinced 
that this stamp will remind people of the vital importance of organ 
donation. It will save lives. It will bring about more awareness. Mr. 
President, anything that we can do to encourage families to discuss 
this issue will, in fact, better prepare them to make this life-saving 
decision.
  Further, Mr. President, as you and other Members of the Chamber may 
know, Senator Kennedy and Representative Moakley held a field hearing 
in Massachusetts on this very issue. I will hold a similar field 
hearing in Ohio this fall, and I encourage all of my colleagues to do 
the same in their

[[Page S3400]]

home States, to bring this issue closer to home.
  Recently, there has been a lot of publicity about organ donation--
publicity specifically about controversial protocols that have been 
considered to enhance the viability of transplanted organs. I support 
an informed public dialog on this, or any other medical issue. As this 
debate continues, however, Mr. President, we have to make sure that we 
keep our eye on the ball, that we stay focused, and not lose sight of 
the fact that organ donations save many thousands of lives each year in 
this country, and that thousands of other Americans are still waiting 
for this precious gift of life.
  Mr. President, together we can build a national consensus to increase 
the rate of organ donations. Seriously ill Americans who are on these 
waiting lists should not have to wait so long for a second chance. They 
should have a second chance. And I look forward to working with all of 
my colleagues in the Senate and with people across this country to 
achieve this goal in the months ahead.
  I thank the Chair. I yield the floor.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from South Carolina is recognized.
  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent I may proceed in 
morning business for 20 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________