[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 14 (Tuesday, February 15, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H377-H378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL ORGAN DONOR MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 19, 1999, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, what if just one of us could 
dramatically benefit 80 people at one time? What if through just one 
event any one of us could literally save the life of a peer? Every 
single one of us has within ourselves the ability to effect positive 
changes by giving the gift of life.
  Yesterday, this House passed a resolution recognizing the value and 
the need for organ donations. As we celebrate National Organ Donor 
Month, we need to remember the thousands of innocent families who will 
lose a loved one because no viable organ was available; and we must 
consider our options to help these families.
  It has often been said that life is short and the nearly 60,000 
patients who are currently waiting on this waiting list to receive 
these organs know just how precious time is. The waiting time for 
patients hanging on to life continues to expand. Unfortunately, the 
number of organs and the number of organ donors does not expand. Every 
16 minutes, a name is added to the ever-growing waiting list of those 
who will wait transplantation. These facts translate into 13 people who 
die each and every day just because there are not enough organs 
available for them.
  As I said, there are over 60,000 people awaiting organ transplants 
today; and, sadly, most of them will continue to wait for a tissue or 
an organ that may never come. Transplantation saves lives and it is 
important that we, as Members of Congress, do everything we can to 
raise awareness on the importance of organ and tissue donations and to 
increase the amount of donors throughout our land and especially in our 
districts.
  Organ donation is as simple as filling out a donor card and 
indicating one's intent with their driver's license bureau. There are 
no limitations on who can donate. In fact, organ donors have included 
newborn babies all the way to senior citizens. However, the most 
important step that one can take is to discuss this important decision 
with their family members. It is essential

[[Page H378]]

that family members know our wishes, as relatives will be contacted and 
asked to sign a consent form upon our death.
  Most Americans support organ donations. Nonetheless, only about 50 
percent of the families asked to donate a loved one's organs have 
agreed to do so. Americans traditionally have strong values and share 
the spirit of giving within ourselves, within our communities, and in 
our Nation. Yet most Americans do not realize that the loss of one's 
life can result in the gift of life for many others.
  Our corneas could give sight to two people, our kidneys could free up 
two people from dialysis, our heart, lungs, and liver can literally 
save the lives of patients who are in desperate need of a 
transplantation.
  There is no greater gift than the gift of life. We must encourage 
this giving and work to leave a lasting legacy to prevent the needless 
and tragic deaths of thousands of Americans.

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