[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 33 (Thursday, March 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E513-E514]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 NATIONAL EYE DONOR MONTH--MARCH, 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. FRED UPTON

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 2005

  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of my 
colleagues and to all of our constituents across the Nation that March, 
2005, is National Eye Donor Month. As a member of the House Energy and 
Commerce Committee's Health Subcommittee, I have long been a champion 
of the cause of donation and particularly the needs of our nation's eye 
banks. But it was a special honor to be asked this year to participate 
in this proclamation, for 2005 marks the centennial of the first 
corneal transplant performed in 1905 by Dr. Eduard Zirm.
  Since Dr. Zirm performed that first corneal transplant one hundred 
years ago, and in partnership since 1944 with our nation's eye banks, 
we have made tremendous progress. Each year in the United States, more 
than 46,000 people, ranging in age from nine days to 107 years old, 
have had their sight restored through corneal transplants, and hundreds 
of thousands are helped through important research to find cures for 
other blinding diseases.
  But we cannot rest on our laurels. The purpose of Eye Donor Month is 
to educate each and every American individual and family about giving 
the gift of sight and to make a terrific difference in someone's life. 
This month marks an opportunity to raise public awareness and to honor 
past donors and their families. The process to become a donor takes 
just a few minutes. All donors need to do is to sign a card, and, most 
importantly, discuss their donation wishes with their families. Our eye 
banks across the nation, in partnership with the Eye Bank Association 
of America., will continue to work to ensure that all Americans will 
receive the tissue they need and that this tissue will be safe and 
effective.
  As National Eye Donor Month proceeds, I encourage my colleagues to 
work with their local eye banks to increase awareness of corneal 
transplantation and the continuous need for donors, and I encourage all 
Americans to sign a donor card and speak with their families about 
their desire to give the gift of sight.

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