[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 160 (Thursday, October 2, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10405-S10406]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES ORGAN TRANSPLANT AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2008

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, tragically, a month and a half ago, we 
lost a wonderful colleague of all of ours, Stephanie Tubbs Jones--
Stephanie Tubbs Jones was a member of the U.S. House of 
Representatives, a wonderful Congresswoman who, whenever you met her, 
had a big, broad smile on her face. She obviously loved her work on 
behalf of her country. All of us miss her.
  There is legislation called the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Organ 
Transplant Authorization Act of 2008. I have worked on it in the 
Senate. I provided a companion bill in the Senate. Yesterday, I worked 
with Dr. Coburn on the other side to resolve any differences. I 
understand it is still being reviewed. My hope is that this legislation 
will be enacted today. Let me describe the importance of this 
legislation.
  We have more than 99,000 Americans right now awaiting organ 
transplantation. They are on a waiting list to find an organ. In fact, 
two-thirds of those on the waiting list are waiting because they suffer 
from end-stage renal disease, and they are waiting for a kidney 
transplant. About 6,000 who are on that waiting list will die this 
year. We know how to save them, but they will die because they did not 
get a transplant--a kidney, heart, lung. They will die.
  I have worked on this issue for many years. I recall some long while 
ago I worked on legislation that required every tax refund that went 
out to the American people in that year to be accompanied by a little 
sheet that told you how you could become an organ donor, how you could 
sign up. Seventy million Americans got a little piece of information on 
how to sign up to become an organ donor. On my driver's license in my 
wallet, it says ``donor.'' It is pretty easy to do for most Americans.

  As I indicated, two-thirds of those on the waiting list are waiting 
for a kidney. Many will die before they get one. On the day the 
legislation that informed 70 million people how to become an organ 
donor passed, I held a press conference with a group of my colleagues. 
Senator Strom Thurmond came to the press conference. I believe Strom 
Thurmond was 90 years old then. He came to the press conference to sign 
a big plaque we had, to sign up as an organ donor at age 90.
  You had to know Strom Thurmond to understand the irony. He was a 
remarkable American, a remarkable Member of the Senate. At age 90, he 
signed an organ donor card, and here is what he said: When I am gone, I 
don't know if I have anything anybody wants, but they are welcome to 
it. That was his notion of an organ donor card, and he signed up.
  The fact is, not just in memory of our wonderful colleague, Stephanie 
Tubbs Jones, but in pursuit of doing the right thing. We can save a lot 
of lives by passing this legislation. This legislation will authorize 
an increase in the Federal contribution that has been the same since 
1984. The Federal contribution to the Organ Procurement and 
Transplantation Network.
  The Federal contribution to that network was $2 million in 1984, and 
that is what it is today. This legislation proposes an increase in that 
authorization--not a major increase but an increase that will allow us 
to do greater work to try to match those available organs with those 
who desperately need a donation.
  The good news is that patients no longer have to wait for someone to 
die, for example, to get a kidney. Living donations and paired 
donations have dramatically increased the number of kidney donations 
every year. That is saving lives and, by the way, saving taxpayers 
money. The cost of renal dialysis is very high.
  I come to the Senate floor today only to say this is a very important 
piece of legislation for tens and tens of thousands of people in this 
country who even now are waiting for an organ transplant, some of whom 
will die before they get it. We can save many lives with this 
legislation.
  My hope is that at the end of today we will have cleared the bill on 
both

[[Page S10406]]

sides and then send it back to the House. They will then clear it 
tomorrow because it has had a very small change that we negotiated 
yesterday but not a material change. When we do that, we will have done 
something very important in terms of organ transplants and the ability 
to save lives in this country.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a 
quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the 
quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Nelson of Nebraska). Without objection, it 
is so ordered.

                          ____________________