[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 160 (Thursday, October 2, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2209-E2210]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES GIFT OF LIFE MEDAL ACT OF 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 29, 2008

  Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to applaud House and Senate 
passage by unanimous consent of H.R. 7198, the Stephanie Tubbs Jones 
Gift of Life Medal Act of 2008. Representative Tubbs Jones' life ended 
as she lived it; by exemplifying concern for the welfare of others. She 
donated her organs in the waning hours of her life so that the lives of 
others could continue. In that spirit, this legislation creates a 
commemorative medal for organ donors and their families, recognizing 
the brave and selfless act of organ donation. It is a fitting tribute 
to her, and I look forward to seeing this program get up and running.
  This bill is a modified version of H.R. 6950, which passed the House 
on September 25, 2008. We modified the bill in order to address 
concerns from the other body and ensure its passage.
  Unfortunately, in modifying the bill, we had to delete findings 
included in H.R. 6950. I ask to insert these findings into the Record.
  (1) Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones was dedicated to eliminating 
health disparities and protecting vulnerable populations.
  (2) Through her service on the Committee on Ways and Means, 
Subcommittee on Health, she was a strong voice for those who were poor, 
elderly, racial and ethnic minorities, and disenfranchised.
  (3) Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones' concern for others was 
demonstrated by the decision to donate her organs, so that as her life 
ended, the lives of others continued.
  (4) There are currently 99,625 candidates for organ donation on the 
national transplant waiting list. Every 16 minutes, a new name is added 
to such list. Sixteen persons die each day waiting for a life saving 
organ transplant.
  (5) Minority populations account for nearly 50 percent of those on 
the national transplant waiting list.
  (6) Diseases that can lead to organ failure, such as hypertension and 
diabetes, are found more frequently in ethnic minority populations than 
in the general population.
  (7) While minorities donate organs in proportion to their population, 
the rate of organ donations fails to keep pace with the need for 
transplants in the population. African Americans, for example, 
represent about 13 percent of the population and 12 percent of organ 
donors, but comprise roughly 23 percent of individuals on national 
transplant waiting list for kidney transplants.
  (8) Transplantation success rates are higher when organs are matched 
between people

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sharing the same racial and ethnic background.
  (9) Because of the disparities in the need for organs, minorities are 
more likely to wait longer to find a successful match and are more 
likely to be sicker when an organ is found.
  (10) An increase in minority organ donations would decrease the 
waiting time and increase the likelihood of successful transplantations 
for minorities.

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