[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 24 (Tuesday, March 7, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S1230]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL EYE DONOR MONTH

 Mr. BREAUX. Mr. President, I'm pleased to rise today to call 
to the attention of my colleagues and all of our constituents across 
the nation that March is National Eye Donor Month. For more than 55 
years now thousands of Americans have participated in this selfless 
exercise of helping others.
  The purpose of National Eye Donor Month is not only to honor the past 
donors who have played a pivotal role in restoring the sight of over 
half a million individuals, but also to raise public awareness of the 
continuing need for donors. When people decide to become a donor all 
they need to do is sign a card and announce their intent to their 
family.
  The many recipients of this ``gift of sight'' represent the great 
diversity of our nation's population. For instance, Judrita Billiot is 
a young Houma Indian who lives in a small community about 50 miles from 
New Orleans, Louisiana. This young girl was born with a condition known 
as congenital opacity, in which the corneas neither transmit nor allow 
the passage of light. When she was still less than a year old Judrita 
received corneal transplants in both of her eyes. I'm happy to say that 
today she is a healthy young girl with normal vision thanks not only to 
the transplant procedure, but also to the donors who were thoughtful 
enough to leave behind this extraordinary gift.
  The success of Judrita's transplants is not uncommon. The current 
success rate of corneal transplantation is nearly 90% thanks to a 
rigorous screening process and the dedication of our nation's eye 
banks, working in conjunction with the Eye Bank Association of America.
  I appreciate this opportunity to highlight National Eye Donor Month 
and I encourage all of my colleagues to work with their local eye banks 
to increase public awareness of corneal transplantation and the 
continuous need for donors.

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