[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 146 (Monday, November 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2286]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            H. RES. 220, RECOGNIZING AMERICA'S BLOOD CENTERS

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                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, November 7, 2005

  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the efforts of 
America's Blood Centers and especially the center in the 16th District 
of Texas, which I represent.
  For more than a half a century, United Blood Services of El Paso and 
Southern New Mexico has been serving our community as the sole source 
of blood supplies for blood transfusions and trauma surgeries. The 
United Blood Services has a staff of over 90 handling more than 30,000 
donations a year.
  When a fire destroyed our local United Blood Services facilities in 
2003, there was a serious shortage of blood supply not only for my 
district, but also for the Southern New Mexico region. The fire 
destroyed close to 500 units of blood.
  Fortunately, an emergency blood drive was quickly organized to obtain 
enough supply to serve those in need without having to rely on 
surrounding areas. I applaud not only the efforts of the center, but 
also those of my constituents who came out to donate during the time of 
critical need. The incident was incredibly unfortunate, but it did 
remind us all of what our blood center means to El Paso, and what the 
community means to the blood center.
  Mr. Speaker, with the life-saving services that the center in my 
district and those around the country provide, it is only appropriate 
to recognize the important work of America's Blood Centers today. 
Therefore, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
very worthwhile resolution.

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