[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 65 (Monday, April 23, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2348]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 479--DESIGNATING APRIL 2018 AS ``NATIONAL DONATE LIFE 
                                MONTH''

  Ms. HEITKAMP (for herself, Ms. Collins, and Ms. Warren) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 479

       Whereas, in April 2018, more than 114,000 individuals in 
     the United States were on the official national transplant 
     waiting list (referred to in this preamble as the ``national 
     transplant waiting list'') managed by the Organ Procurement 
     and Transplantation Network;
       Whereas, in 2017, 34,770 transplant procedures were 
     performed in the United States with organs from 10,286 
     deceased donors and 6,187 living donors, yet 6,081 candidates 
     for transplantation died while waiting for an organ 
     transplant;
       Whereas, on average, 20 people die each day in the United 
     States while waiting for an organ donation;
       Whereas more than 138,000,000 people in the United States 
     are registered to be organ and tissue donors, yet the demand 
     for donated organs outweighs the supply of organs made 
     available each day;
       Whereas, in 2017, a record was set for the number of organ 
     transplants performed in a single year, yet every 10 minutes, 
     1 person is added to the national transplant waiting list;
       Whereas an organ donation from a single deceased donor can 
     benefit up to 8 individuals;
       Whereas a living donor can donate a kidney or a portion of 
     a lung or the liver to save the life of another individual; 
     and
       Whereas April is traditionally recognized as ``National 
     Donate Life Month'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates April 2018 as ``National Donate Life 
     Month'';
       (2) supports the goals and ideals of National Donate Life 
     Month;
       (3) supports promoting awareness of organ donation by 
     increasing public awareness;
       (4) encourages States, localities, and territories of the 
     United States to support the goals and ideals of National 
     Donate Life Month by issuing a proclamation to designate 
     April 2018 as ``National Donate Life Month'';
       (5) commends each individual who--
       (A) is a registered organ donor who may have a positive 
     impact on the life of another individual; or
       (B) indicates a wish to become an organ donor;
       (6) acknowledges the grief of families who face the loss of 
     loved ones and commends the families who, in their grief, 
     choose to donate the organs of deceased family members;
       (7) recognizes the generous contribution made by each 
     living individual who has donated an organ to save the life 
     of another individual;
       (8) acknowledges the advances in medical technology that 
     have enabled organ transplantation with organs donated by 
     living individuals to become a viable treatment option for an 
     increasing number of patients;
       (9) commends the medical professionals and organ 
     transplantation experts who have worked to improve the 
     process of living organ donation and increase the number of 
     living donors; and
       (10) salutes each individual who has helped to give the 
     gift of life by supporting, promoting, and encouraging organ 
     donation.

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