[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 7, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H668-H672]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING IMPORTANCE OF ORGAN, TISSUE, 
    BONE MARROW AND BLOOD DONATION AND SUPPORTING NATIONAL DONOR DAY

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 31) expressing the sense of the 
Congress regarding the importance of organ, tissue, bone marrow, and 
blood donation and supporting National Donor Day.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 31

       Whereas more than 70,000 individuals await organ 
     transplants at any given moment;
       Whereas another man, woman, or child is added to the 
     national organ transplant waiting list every 20 minutes;
       Whereas despite the progress in the last 15 years, more 
     than 15 people per day die because of a shortage of donor 
     organs;
       Whereas almost everyone is a potential organ, tissue, and 
     blood donor;
       Whereas transplantation has become an element of mainstream 
     medicine that prolongs and enhances life;
       Whereas for the fourth consecutive year, a coalition of 
     health organizations is joining forces for National Donor 
     Day;
       Whereas the first three National Donor Days raised a total 
     of nearly 25,000 units of blood, added over 4,000 potential 
     donors to the National Marrow Donor Program Registry, and 
     distributed tens of thousands of organ and tissue pledge 
     cards;
       Whereas National Donor Day is America's largest one-day 
     organ, tissue, bone marrow, and blood donation event; and
       Whereas a number of businesses, foundations, health 
     organizations, and the Department of Health and Human 
     Services have designated February 10, 2001, as National Donor 
     Day: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) supports the goals and ideas of National Donor Day;
       (2) encourages all Americans to learn about the importance 
     of organ, tissue, bone marrow, and blood donation and to 
     discuss such donation with their families and friends; and
       (3) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on the people of the United States to conduct 
     appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to 
     demonstrate support for organ, tissue, bone marrow, and blood 
     donation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).


                             General Leave

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and insert extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 31.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 31, a 
resolution regarding the importance of organ, tissue, bone marrow and 
blood donation

[[Page H669]]

and supporting National Donor Day. I want to commend my colleague, the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Thurman), for her work on this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 31 recognizes the critical need for 
increased organ donation and acknowledges the success of past National 
Donor Days. The resolution expresses congressional support for the 
goals and ideas of National Donor Day, and it encourages all Americans 
to learn about the importance of organ, tissue, bone marrow and blood 
donation.
  I am pleased that the Health and Human Services Secretary, Tommy 
Thompson, has recognized the serious nature of this growing problem and 
stated that improving organ donation is a priority for his first 100 
days in office. Secretary Thompson has indicated that he will focus on 
ways to significantly increase organ donation in our country.
  Mr. Speaker, we know that measures such as the resolution before us 
will help the Secretary in his efforts. In addition, we can all 
participate in efforts to promote organ donation in our own 
communities. By working together to increase organ donation, we can 
help save thousands of lives. I urge all Members to join me in 
supporting passage of H. Con. Res. 31.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the help of the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Brown), my ranking member, in this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be a cosponsor of this resolution and 
the Organ Donation Improvement Act, which we will also take up today.
  I commend first and, most importantly, the gentlewoman from Florida 
(Mrs. Thurman) for her good work on this, as well as the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Barrett) 
highlighting the substantial unmet need for donated organs.
  This resolution highlights the need not only for organ donation, but 
for tissue, blood and bone marrow donations as well.
  There are 1,298 patients currently waiting for organs at northeast 
Ohio hospitals in my part of Ohio; 800 patients waiting for a kidney, 
140 patients for a heart, 60 patients waiting for a lung.
  A single donor can provide organs and tissue to more than 50 people 
in need.
  March is Red Cross Month and the spotlight on this organization could 
not, Mr. Speaker, be more timely.
  Despite 6.3 million units of blood collected from 4 million generous 
donors in the year 2000, blood supplies are at a record low across our 
country. Awareness is the first critical step in addressing the 
country's life-saving donation needs. The resolution of the gentlewoman 
from Florida (Mrs. Thurman) makes Congress a leader in this awareness 
campaign.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be a cosponsor.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to 
the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Bilirakis) for yielding the time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to add my strong support to H. Con. Res. 31, a 
sense of the Congress resolution supporting National Donor Day.
  I want to congratulate the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Thurman), 
my colleague who introduced this, and I want to congratulate the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Brown), who brought it forward to the House.
  Every family hopes that if one of its members becomes seriously ill, 
medical science will be able to provide a miracle and restore their 
loved ones to a healthy and rewarding life. Medical science has been 
able to do exactly that over the past decade for hundreds of thousands 
of families with loved ones suffering from diseases and injuries that 
affect the heart, the kidney, pancreas, lungs, liver or tissue.
  Transplantation of organs and tissues has become one of the most 
remarkable success stories in medicine, now giving tens of thousands of 
desperately ill Americans each year a new chance at life.
  But sadly, this medical miracle is not yet available to all in need. 
Waiting lists are growing more rapidly than the number of organs and 
tissues that are being donated. There are more than 70,000 individuals 
awaiting organ transplants at any given moment, and despite the fact 
that almost every one who is a potential donor, more than 10 people 
each day die because of a shortage of donor organs.
  Currently, 2,566 men, women and children from the greater 
metropolitan area are on waiting lists hoping for an organ to become 
available. That is an increase of 108 over the previous year. Many of 
these residents have been waiting for years, and the wait is growing 
longer.
  Every 2 hours one of the more than 60,000 Americans now on waiting 
lists dies for lack of an available organ. And even when individuals 
have indicated a desire to be a donor, statistics show that those 
wishes go unfulfilled more than half the time.

                              {time}  1245

  Two important points I think could well be made, and that is the 
final decision on whether or not to donate organs and tissue is always 
made by surviving family members. Checking the organ donation box on a 
driver's license does not guarantee organ and tissue donation. 
Individuals should discuss the importance of donation with their 
families now in a non-crisis atmosphere so if the question arises, all 
members of the family will remember having made the decision to give 
the gift of life.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution encourages all Americans to learn about 
the importance of organ, tissue, bone marrow and blood donation and to 
discuss such donations with their families and friends. I heartily 
support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to just jump ahead and stress my strong support 
for a bill that is coming up, H.R. 624, the Organ Donation Improvement 
Act, which would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to 
carry out a program to educate the public with respect to organ 
donation; in particular, the need for additional organs for 
transplantation. The measure specifically recognizes the very generous 
contribution made by each living individual who has donated an organ to 
save a life. It also acknowledges the advances in medical technology 
that have enabled transplantation of organs donated by living 
individuals to become a viable treatment option for an increasing 
number of patients.
  I know in this Congress we have had several Members who have 
benefited from organ transplants. Mr. Speaker, with the passage of this 
legislation that will follow, this may well be the first day of 
someone's life, and let Congress vote for the future.
  I must thank my colleagues who have worked so very hard on this and 
all of the other medical issues, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Bilirakis) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown), and all of my 
colleagues who have contributed their commitment, their time and energy 
towards this legislation.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 7 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Florida (Mrs. Thurman), the sponsor of this resolution.
  Mrs. THURMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Brown), whose subcommittee has been a leader in this area; and I 
certainly thank the chairman, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Bilirakis), a colleague of mine from Florida, who joins me in 
districts. We recognize the concern and the interest in this issue not 
only in our districts, but in and around the country.
  Mr. Speaker, I also appreciate the statement of the gentlewoman from 
Maryland (Mrs. Morella). It is good to see my colleagues from Ohio, 
Maryland, Florida, along with the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Barrett). This is a national issue.
  I would like to take just a moment first of all, though, to recognize 
a colleague of ours, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moakley). 
His story is touching. He has dedicated his life to serving the people 
of Boston. He

[[Page H670]]

was not deterred from service 6 years ago when he needed, among other 
things, a liver transplant. He was not deterred when his family was 
undergoing a crisis. Now he is forced to face another crisis, and again 
he will continue his public service. When the gentleman from 
Massachusetts was told by his doctor to take off time to do something 
he enjoys, his response was inspiring to all of us. He said, ``Doctor, 
I am doing what I enjoy doing. There is nothing else I would rather 
do.''
  And it was the gift of an organ and utter determination that have 
allowed the gentleman from Massachusetts to lead the life that he is 
leading.
  Mr. Speaker, organ donation falls into the category of things that 
one never thinks will affect you, your friends, your neighbors or your 
family. It happens to other people. In this Congress alone there are 
several Members who have undergone successful organ transplants, and we 
are thankful that these fine people are with us today. The gentleman 
from Massachusetts (Mr. Moakley) and the gentleman from South Carolina 
(Mr. Spence) are two of the lucky ones.
  My husband, John, was also one of the lucky ones. His successful 
transplant not only gave John a new lease on life, but it has also 
given my children back a father and me a loving husband.
  Mr. Speaker, we are not alone. Four-year-old Hannah Jones from 
Gainesville, Florida, received the gift of life through donated 
umbilical cord blood. Without this gift, Hannah would not have survived 
her bout with leukemia. Every year thousands of Americans wait on the 
organ donation list, and they are dependent on those kind enough to 
give and those who are aware that there is a need.
  Transplantation is extremely successful, and people can live 
productive lives with a transplanted organ. However, because of this 
technology, even more people have been added to the national waiting 
list. Sadly, the number of donors has not grown as fast as the number 
of people waiting for organs. Even with the growing number of 
transplants performed on average, there is an increase in the number of 
patients on the national waiting list every day.
  Today there are more than 70,000 people waiting for organ transplants 
and at least 15 people die each day while waiting for an organ. In 
simple terms, the biggest problem facing transplant patients is the 
shortage of organs. One way that we can help address this health care 
crisis is to talk to our friends and families about the importance of 
organ and tissue donation; and do not forget to let those friends and 
family know at the hospital what it means and why you have chosen to 
give an organ because it can be a problem if you do not.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to ask my colleagues and others 
for their help. We need to work together to increase awareness about 
the importance of organ and tissue donation. I ask my colleagues to 
join in passing H. Con. Res. 31, a resolution that recognizes and 
supports National Donor Day.
  National Donor Day is organized by Saturn and the United Auto Workers 
along with a number of organ foundations, health organizations, and the 
Department of Health and Human Services.
  They have established February 10, 2001 as the day. This day is 
dedicated to educating people about the five points of life: whole and 
blood platelets, organs and tissue, bone marrow, and cord blood.
  Last month, this coalition joined forces for the fourth time to bring 
us together for a National Donor Day. This is America's largest one-day 
donation event held just before Valentine's Day. The first three donor 
days raised a total of 25,000 units of blood, added over 4,000 
potential donors to the National Marrow Donor Registry and distributed 
tens of thousands of organ and tissue pledge cards.
  You and I, your friends and families can participate in this historic 
event by giving blood or pledging to give blood, volunteering with the 
National Marrow Donor Program, filling out donor and tissue donation 
pledge cards and agreeing to discuss the decision with family members.
  I would also like to take a moment to thank those people and groups 
of the Fifth District of Florida, including the Saturn car dealership 
in Gainesville owned by Mr. Roland Daniels; along with LifeSouth 
Community Blood Centers, also in Gainesville; and other groups and 
individuals for pulling together to host a donation event on National 
Donor Day.
  I urge everyone to talk to their friends and families about the 
importance of organ donation and to let others know about this year's 
National Organ Donor Day.
  While this day has already come and gone, every day holds the promise 
of life for the thousands of people who await organ transplants like 
the one 4-year-old Hannah Jones received.
  Please support this resolution.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) who has a very interesting and 
wonderful story to tell.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank both the 
chairman and the ranking member for their support on this resolution.
  Today I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 31, which expresses 
the sense of Congress regarding the importance of organ, tissue, bone 
marrow, and blood donation and supports a National Donor Day.
  Currently about 73,000 patients nationwide await organ transplants, 
and some 12 die each day while waiting. Every 14 minutes, another name 
is added to the national transplant waiting list. An average of 16 
people die each day from the lack of available organs for transplant.
  In 1999, there were 5,843 organ donors resulting in 21,990 organ 
transplants. Less than one-third, about 20,000, receive transplants 
each year. While the number of donors rose in 1998 to nearly 5,800, 
with about three organs recovered from each donor, it still falls 
short, Mr. Speaker, short of the substantial and growing need.
  Today, I have two nephews who are undergoing surgery for the 
transplanting of kidneys, Lamont and Galan. We wish them the very best 
as they undergo this very important undertaking.
  I say to my colleagues today that there is an important need for 
organ donations, one that will help the survival of families. Lives are 
saved because of the generosity of those who donate their organs. I 
strongly support this resolution and urge my friends to do so as well.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I support H. Con. Res. 31, which 
expresses the sense of the House of the importance of organ, tissue, 
bone marrow, and blood donation. In an age of unprecedented scientific 
advances in medical and behavioral sciences, it is important that we 
utilize every means at our disposal to save human lives.
  Each year organ donations save lives--thousands of lives; and 
scientific surveys indicate that Americans overwhelmingly support organ 
donation. Despite this fact, the same surveys indicate that Americans 
are reluctant to donate their organs. This is particularly true among 
people of color, and even more so for all groups with regard to the 
donation of bone marrow.
  Interestingly, the major reason for which respondents indicate 
reluctance to donate their organs is that they have not given the issue 
much thought. Herein lies our opportunity to do some good. We must 
support efforts to educate our constituencies about the necessity of 
organ, tissue, and bone marrow donation, and the good that these gifts 
can do. Because gifts are indeed what they are.
  Just as we use the most modern tools medical science has provided to 
successfully transplant donated organs and tissue, we must use the 
tools behavioral science has provided us to change the attitudes of 
Americans about the necessity of this medical procedure--a procedure 
which saves the lives of more than 50,000 Americans each year. The 
lives of many Americans hang in the balance.
  H. Con. Res. 31 is a good start in this regard, and I urge my 
colleagues to support its passage.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, in Asian-Pacific American communities 
throughout the nation, parents are known to overrule decisions of their 
children, even if their children are grown adults with families of 
their own. That cultural norm compounded with cultural and religious 
stigma surrounding tissue or organ donations and the complexities of 
Eastern versus Western values and medicine

[[Page H671]]

makes it difficult for families to accept the decisions of individual 
family members who wish to be donors. Even with a living will provided 
by a donor, the final decision of whether to make a donation is made by 
the surviving family. Thus, the need for such public awareness and 
outreach activities is a vital component of raising the potential 
matching success for those thousands of patients waiting for 
transplants and encouraging the recruitment of new donors.
  At any given day of the year, there are between 1,000 and 2,000 
patients awaiting organ or tissue transplants throughout the nation. Of 
the 30,000 individuals that are diagnosed with leukemia each year, 6 
percent of these are of Asian-Pacific American ancestry. The slim 
probabilities of finding a perfect match for many of these patients are 
often bleak.
  Just 10 years ago, the possibility of finding a match in the National 
Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) was virtually nonexistent with only 123 
Asian Pacific American donors listed on the National Registry. As of 
December 3, 2001, there were 257,000 donors of Asian-Pacific American 
ancestry out of 4.2 million currently registered in the NMDP. Although 
the radically increased numbers represent a degree of success, only 25 
percent of those needing a bone marrow transplant are unable to find a 
perfect donor. With the estimated attrition of 10 percent of potential 
donors from the NMDP each year, the need to keep focused on recruitment 
and retention of donors in the program is critical to its continued 
success.
  The continued support of Congress to improve upon the program it 
created in the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984 is critical to the 
continued success of national programs such as the Organ Procurement 
and Transplantation Network and the National Marrow Donor Program.
  Therefore, I urge my fellow colleagues to join in the support of this 
critical legislation which serves the needs of every American citizen 
of this nation, from the 50 states to the 5 territories. Furthermore, I 
would like to extend my appreciation to Mr. Bilirakis for introducing 
this legislation which addresses the particular needs and improves this 
important program.
  Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today in support of H. 
Con. Res. 31, a resolution honoring National Donor Day, and I'd like to 
thank Congresswoman Thurman for bringing this issue to the Congress' 
attention.
  Mr. Speaker, as many of my colleagues know, I received a liver 
transplant nearly 6 years ago. Without that transplant, I would not 
have lived more than a few months. These last 6 years have been some of 
the best years of my life--and for that and so much more, I am deeply 
grateful. I am deeply grateful to the family--who I will never know--
who courageously decided to donate their loved ones' organs so that 
someone like me would have a second chance.
  I am deeply grateful to the doctors and nurses who performed my 
operation, so professionally and so successfully.
  And I am deeply grateful to the scientists and researchers who have 
worked so hard to develop the techniques and procedures that are giving 
so many people a better, longer, and healthier life.
  I stand here today as one of the lucky people that was given the 
opportunity to receive an organ transplant. Unfortunately, so many 
others across this country will not have that opportunity.
  Mr. Speaker, while 20,000 people will receive a transplant this year, 
another 40,000 that desperately need an organ will not. That gives me, 
and I hope all of my colleagues, a great desire to work to raise 
awareness about organ donation, and improve the procedures for 
obtaining a transplant.
  Mr. Speaker, if there ever was a time or issue where government 
should and can act--this is that issue.
  We can literally save lives by improving the structure of organ 
donation across the country. We can make it easier for families to make 
the choice of donating an organ, we can make transplant surgery more 
accessible to all Americans and we can teach everyone that their 
courageous choice will give another human being the greatest gift of 
all--the gift of life.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to mention that this House will also be 
taking up a bill today offered by Mr. Bilirakis and Mr. Barrett, H.R. 
624, and I want to lend my strong support for that legislation as well. 
Mr. Bilirakis' and Mr. Barrett's bill will direct the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services to carry out a program to educate the public 
on organ donation and it will provide funding for travel expenses of 
individuals making a living donation of an organ.
  The bill will also provide assistance to states to improve donor 
registries, and make those important registries available to hospitals 
and donor organizations. These are excellent measures that will 
strengthen organ donation and I urge the House to pass H.R. 624 when we 
consider that legislation later today.
  Mr. Speaker, as I said, I am among the lucky individuals to have been 
given the gift of life through an organ transplant.
  I hope we can join together in this nation to give many, many more 
Americans that same gift.
  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleague from the Ways and 
Means Committee, Representative Karen Thurman, in support of this 
resolution that extends the message that Congress supports the goals of 
National Donor Day and urges the President to issue a proclamation 
calling on the nation to conduct appropriation activities and programs 
to support increased organ donation.
  February 10, 2001 was the fourth National Donor Day organized by 
Saturn and the United Auto Workers. To date, the successful efforts of 
the groups involved have resulted in over 4,000 potential donors being 
added to the National Marrow Donor Program Registry, over 25,000 units 
of blood being collected, and tens of thousands of organ and tissue 
pledge cards being distributed.
  Last year's events included an emphasis on the disproportionally high 
need for minority donors. Recipients often need an organ from a donor 
of the same ethnicity, and organ donation among minorities has 
historically been lower than the rest of the population, making 
minorities less likely to find a matching donor. We need to continue 
such efforts to reach out to minorities and encourage them to become 
donors.
  There are still over 70,000 people on the transplant waiting list. We 
need to reemphasize our commitment to the National Donor Day and the 
importance of organ, tissue, and blood donation. We also need to put 
more resources into programs with similar goals to take steps toward 
making each day a national donor day.
  I urge President Bush to join us in these efforts to encourage people 
to give the gift of life, and I urge my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I speak today in full support of House 
Concurrent Resolution 31, which expresses the importance of organ, 
tissue, bone marrow, and blood donations and celebrates National Donor 
Day. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my colleague, 
Congresswoman Karen Thurman of Florida, for her continued leadership 
and sponsorship of this resolution.
  The need for blood, bone marrow, organ and tissue donation grows each 
year. So, do the concerns regarding access to these supplies, which are 
of a particular concern to rural areas such as Guam. Guam's distance 
from the states and geographical isolation forces hospitals to become 
almost solely dependent on the local population to supply its demand 
for donations.
  With the anticipated closing of the Naval Hospital Blood Bank, the 
Blood Bank in the Guam Memorial Hospital, the only civilian hospital on 
the island, will become the sole provider of blood products on the 
island. Therefore, it is critical to ensure that supplies of local 
blood products, including packed red blood cells, plasma and platelets, 
are regularly replenished and that the supply is enough to meet the 
needs in the event of a disaster or emergency situation.
  Local blood donations ensure the ready availability of certain blood 
products, which are difficult to obtain from off-island vendors or 
providers. Local donations ensure the availability of all blood 
products for patient care in the event of increased emergency usage. 
This allows Guam Memorial Hospital to increase the provision of certain 
procedures and services for patients locally, rather than having to 
medically evacuate patients to Hawaii or the continental United States 
for these types of procedures.
  In observance of Blood Donor Month in Guam, I donated two pints of 
blood at the Guam Memorial Hospital Blood Bank. The staff at the Blood 
Bank were kind enough to make me feel comfortable during the 45 minutes 
it took for the blood to be drawn. At this time, I would like to extend 
my thanks to Glendalyn Pangelinan, the Blood Bank supervisor; Victoria 
Pangelinan, the Blood Donation recruiter; and the Blood Bank 
technicians, Wilma Nisperos, Priscilla Quinata, Charlotte Mier, and 
Lois Santa Cruz, who assisted me during the whole experience.
  Because of Guam's unique geographic situation, it is a continual 
challenge to ensure that an adequate amount of safe blood products are 
constantly available. An active blood donation program is critical in 
keeping the community continually educated and aware of this vital 
need.
  Although organ, tissue, and bone marrow transplantation is not a 
common procedure in Guam as it is in larger metropolitan areas of the 
country, the need is still great as heart disease and diabetes are 
among the leading causes of death on the island. In fact, heart disease 
ranks as the number one killer, while diabetes ranks very close to the 
top and affects Chamorros at 5 times the national average.

[[Page H672]]

  The impact of higher costs and greater distances between Guam and the 
nearest major metropolitan hospital in Honolulu, approximately 3,500 
miles or 7 hours by plane, is a vital concern when it comes to health 
care for U.S. citizens on Guam. Some of Guam's patients are medically 
evacuated to larger metropolitan health care centers in Honolulu and 
Los Angeles for these procedures. Other times, the organ and tissue 
donations are transported to Guam for transplantation. So, the access 
to organ and tissue donation is a critical component of whether a 
patient lives or dies.
  Although donations of organs, tissue and bone marrow are not as 
frequent as donations of blood products, the needs are the same, only 
the distance and costs to accessing these products are much greater. 
The continued support of Congress in these efforts to improve access 
and public awareness of the importance of organ, tissue, bone marrow 
and blood donations is critical to meeting the needs of those 70,000 
individuals who are waiting for organ transplants at any given moment, 
for car crash victims in need of a ready supply of blood, and for 
patients afflicted with leukemia in need of a bone marrow transplant 
just to survive.
  Therefore, today I rise in strong support of this resolution and 
encourage all Americans, whether they live in the 50 states or the 5 
territories to make a donation of blood to their local blood bank, sign 
up as an organ donor at their nearest Division of Motor Vehicles, and 
register at the nearest Bone Marrow Registry Center in the area. Your 
donation is vital and may help save a life some day.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
31.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________