[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 87 (Monday, July 6, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7357-S7358]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LEVIN:
  S. 2261. A bill to amend chapter 63 of title 5, United States Code, 
to increase the amount of leave time available to a

[[Page S7358]]

Federal employee in any year in connection with serving as an organ 
donor, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Governmental 
Affairs.


                        ORGAN DONOR LEGISLATION

 Mr. LEVIN: Mr. President, I introduce legislation which would 
increase the amount of leave time available to a Federal employee who 
serves as an organ donor. Presently, Federal employees are allowed a 
maximum of 7 days when serving as an organ or bone-marrow donor. 
Although a 7 day recovery period is sufficient for bone-marrow donors, 
often times, the donation of an organ requires a lengthier period for 
recovery. This bill seeks to address this need.
  Under this bill, Federal employees that serve as organ donors would 
be allowed to take up to 30 days of leave for recovery. Thus, this 
legislation provides Federal employees the security of knowing that 
they can take sufficient leave time when considering the option of 
organ donation. This will also serve as a guide for both public and 
private employers who may wish to provide similar benefits to their 
employees.
  Medical technology and improved surgical techniques have improved the 
survival rate of persons needing an organ transplant. It is important 
that the Federal Government continues to do whatever it can to assist 
the medical community in encouraging citizens to become organ donors.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a bill summary be printed 
in the Record.
  There being no objection, the summary was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                      Section-by-Section Analysis

       The bill would increase the current limit of 7 days to 30 
     days for organ donation. Recent surveys of doctors and 
     hospitals show that the current limit, while sufficient time 
     for bone-marrow donation, is an insufficient amount of time 
     for organ transplant procedures, where recovery time is 
     lengthier. This change would properly differentiate the two 
     types of donations to reflect that difference in the time it 
     takes to recuperate.
       I would also amend the table of sections at the beginning 
     of chapter 63 of title 5, United States Code, by adding after 
     the item relating to section 6327 a second section 6328 which 
     relates to absence due to funerals of fellow Federal law 
     enforcement officers.
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