[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 44 (Tuesday, April 21, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN RECOGNITION OF THE NATIONAL MARROW DONOR PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 21, 1998

  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call attention to the 
National Marrow Donor Program and a campaign called ``Because I Care.'' 
The National Marrow Donor Program was created in 1986 to provide marrow 
transplants from volunteer, unrelated donors to patients with leukemia, 
aplastic anemia, lymphomas and other life-threatening illnesses.
  The National Marrow Donor Program maintains a Registry of more than 
three million potential marrow donors and is facilitating more than 
one-hundred transplants per month. Currently, the organization's 
operating funds come from the Health Resources and Services 
Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services. The coordinating center is located in Minneapolis, 
Minnesota.
  In 1990, a walkathon entitled ``Because I Care'' was held in 
Longview, Texas, in my Congressional district, to help two leukemia 
patients, Bryan Quinn and Al Edwards. Stemming from that initial event 
has risen the ``Because I Care Campaign,'' a volunteer grassroots 
effort in support of the National Marrow Donor Program. It has since 
become an international campaign supporting the national program's 
global outreach.
  Thousands of people have been tissue typed, and millions more have 
become aware of the National Marrow Donor Program as a result of the 
``Because I Care Campaign.'' The campaign is coordinated by a 
volunteer, Amy Hill, of Longview, Texas. Carter BloodCare in Dallas, 
Texas, a member donor center of the National Marrow Donor Program, 
serves as the ``Because I Care'' coordinating center and is under the 
supervision of Jill Skupin, the National Marrow Donor Program Director 
at Carter BloodCare.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute 
to all the volunteers and donors throughout our nation who have 
contributed to the success of the ``Because I Care Campaign'' and whose 
efforts are so important to those suffering from life-threatening 
illnesses. I want to especially commend Amy Hill, whose vision and 
compassion and selfless dedication helped spark a grassroots effort 
that grew from Longview, Texas, to become a national and international 
campaign in support of the National Marrow Donor Program.

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