[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 30, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E804-E805]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            THE GIFT OF LIFE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL ACT OF 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 30, 1997

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, today our colleagues Mr. Serrano, Mr. 
Dellums, Mr. Kleczka, Mr. Underwood, Mr. Frank, Ms. Christian-Green, 
Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Hall of Ohio, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Berman, Mr. Waxman, 
Mr. Cramer, Mr. Ehrlich, Ms. Clayton, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Gonzalez, Mr. 
Moakley, Mr. Frost, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Spence, and I take great pride in 
reintroducing the Gift of Life Congressional Medal Act of 1997. The 
enactment of this legislation, which doesn't cost taxpayers a penny, 
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.
  There is a major undersupply of available and suitable organ donors.
  Currently, there are 50,000 individuals waiting for an organ 
transplant in the United States. The number of people on the list has 
more than doubled since 1990 and a new name is added to the national 
patient waiting list approximately every 18 minutes. Despite the 
numerous problems that organ donation programs have faced and conquered 
over the years, a major problem still exists.
  The demand for organs will continue to grow with the improvement of 
medical technologies. Without expanded efforts to increase the supply 
of organ donation, the supply of suitable organs will continue to lag 
behind the need.
  For the many would-be organ recipients, the consequence of shortage 
is death. It is clear that expanded efforts are necessary in order to 
increase the number of organ donors.
  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 the 
regional organ procurement organizations [OPO's] and managed by the 
entity administering the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. 
Once the decision to donate an organ has been made, the donor or the 
family member of the donor

[[Page E805]]

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 member the option of receiving 
a Gift of Life Medal, recognizing that some may not want to 
participate. If requested, 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 Coalition on Donation.
  Any one of us, or any member of our families, could need a life 
saving transplant tomorrow. We would then be placed on a waiting list 
to await our turn, or our death.
  So, I ask that our colleagues help bring an end to waiting lists and 
recognize the enormous faith and courage displayed by organ donors and 
their families. Please join us as cosponsors of the Gift of Life 
Congressional Medal Act of 1997. These donors offer others a second 
chance by providing the most precious gift imaginable, the gift of 
life.

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