[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.
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