[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E227-E228]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE NATION'S EYE BANKS DURING NATIONAL EYE DONOR MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHARLIE NORWOOD

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 28, 2006

  Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor today to bring attention to 
the fact that March 2006 is National Eye Donor Month. As a Member of 
the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health and a 
recipient of organ donation myself, I am firmly committed to promoting 
organ, eye, and tissue donation.
  I have been blessed with the same gift thousands of transplant 
recipients have received: the gift of life. Sometimes that gift comes 
in the form of a longer life. Other times, in the case of cornea 
transplant recipients for example, the gift is one of enhanced life, or 
the simple ability to continue every day activities. The recipient is 
allowed the opportunity to enjoy one of the things so many of us take 
for granted--a chance to see the world around us. Few of us know 
personally the challenges associated with lost vision, but the fact 
that our Nation's eye banks exist and have helped so many Americans is 
a testament to their good work. As our Nation's seniors live longer and 
vision issues confront the baby boom generation in record numbers, the 
challenge will grow

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and the work of our Nation's eye banks will prove even more important. 
I know they are up to this new challenge and Congress must stand behind 
them.
  The first successful transplant of cornea tissue was made more than 
one hundred years ago. Since then, advancements in medical technology 
have been phenomenal. Cornea transplants are now among the most common 
and most successful transplant procedures. More than one million 
people, ranging in age from nine days to 107 years old, have received 
eye tissue transplants.
  All eye banks are not-for-profit organizations that are community-
based and work with local philanthropic organizations, such as Lions 
Clubs, to educate citizens on the importance of donation. The 
community-based reach helps contribute to their success. Eye banks 
facilitate approximately 46,000 sight-restoring transplants each year. 
In my home state of Georgia, over 1,000 Georgians have been given the 
gift of sight with the help of the Georgia Eye bank and our ocular 
transplant physicians. Their success is a testament to their hard work 
but it also indicates that Congress must join eye banks in the struggle 
they face everyday.
  The Eye Bank Association of America has been vital in advancing the 
cause of eye donation for the past 45 years. Their efforts to raise 
awareness and support for eye donation have done wonders for the 
development of safe and effective transplants. This year marks the 23rd 
anniversary of Eye Donor Month.
  If you are not yet an anatomical gift donor, I encourage you to 
become one. I know all too well what may seem like a simple check on a 
card can mean to those awaiting a life-saving or life-enhancing 
donation. I continue my call and challenge to all Americans to discuss 
this issue with their families and consider becoming an organ, eye, and 
tissue donor. Such conversations must take place around the kitchen 
table, not after a loved one is gone. The process of becoming a donor 
takes just a few minutes, but its impact can last a lifetime for 
recipients. I also hope that people consider the merits of donating not 
just solid organs, but tissue and corneas as well. As our eye banks 
have proven, being able to give the gift of sight is truly a testament 
to our medical advancement.
  As this month goes on, I encourage my colleagues to recognize the 
success of eye banks across our Nation and work to increase local 
awareness about corneal transplants and the importance of donation. 
Transplants that give the gift of sight change Americans' lives every 
day, and we must do everything in our power to support this effort. I, 
for one, will do my part and hope you will join me in saluting our 
Nation's eye banks during Eye Donor Month.

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