[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 56 (Friday, March 30, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E725]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCING THE WILLIAM H. FRIST GIFT OF LIFE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL ACT

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                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 29, 2007

  Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the William H. 
Frist Gift of Life Congressional Medal Act with my colleague, Mr. Camp 
of Michigan. This legislation creates a congressional commemorative 
medal for organ donors and their families, recognizing the brave and 
selfless act of organ donation. It is an important piece of legislation 
that I hope will continue to receive bipartisan support. I also want to 
thank Senator Durbin and Senator Grassley for introducing the companion 
bill in the Senate.
  Former Senate majority leader and transplant surgeon Dr. William H. 
Frist was a tireless advocate of organ donors and their families during 
his time in the Senate. Dr. Frist worked on behalf of the Gift of Life 
Congressional Medal Act for years, and I'm pleased to name the bill in 
his honor.
  There is a serious shortage of available and suitable organs for 
donation. Nearly 100,000 people are currently waiting for organ 
transplants--over 2,000 of these are children under age 18. The 
national waiting list has grown substantially every year. Since the 
waiting list began, at least 75,000 donation-eligible Americans have 
died waiting for an organ to become available--in 2005 alone, over 
6,000 people died for lack of a suitable organ. Donating an organ to 
someone whose life depends on it is laudable, and should be recognized 
and encouraged. The Gift of Life Congressional Medal Act is an 
important bill which would do just that.
  Health and Human Services--HHS--has already implemented initiatives 
to raise the public awareness of this vital act of giving life. The 
Gift of Life Congressional Medal Act is a great opportunity for us to 
work with HHS to draw attention to this life-saving issue. It sends a 
clear message that donating one's organs is an act that should receive 
the profound respect of our Nation.
  The Gift of Life Congressional Medal Act establishes a nonprofit fund 
to be used to design, produce, and distribute a congressional 
commemorative medal to organ donors or to a surviving family member. 
Enactment of this legislation would have no cost to the Federal 
Government. Startup costs are provided by the Treasury Department in 
the form of a loan, which would be fully repaid. Subsequently, the 
program would be self-sufficient through charitable donations.
  This is noncontroversial, nonpartisan legislation to increase the 
rate of organ donation. I ask my colleagues to help bring an end to 
transplant waiting lists and recognize the enormous courage displayed 
by organ donors and their families. This bill honors these brave acts, 
while publicizing the critical need for increased organ donation. I 
urge swift passage of the William H. Frist Gift of Life Congressional 
Medal Act.

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