[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 3, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E175]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING KIDNEYS FOR COMMUNITIES THIS NATIONAL KIDNEY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 3, 2026

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, March is National Kidney Month--a fitting 
time to pay tribute to an organization that has not only changed lives 
but saved them by expanding access to kidney transplants from living 
donors: Kidneys for Communities. With a special focus on aiding first 
responders, children, and people in agricultural communities, Kidneys 
for Communities developed the first-ever national community-directed 
donation program. It helps educate and connect donors and recipients by 
leveraging its massive network of communities, employers, 
municipalities, and first responder organizations. At a time when we 
face a national kidney shortage, with some 100,000 Americans needing a 
kidney at any given moment but only an average of 6,500 living kidney 
donations made each year, this type or proactive outreach has never 
been more important.
  As a Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, I am 
particularly grateful for the organization's Kidneys for First 
Responders initiative. I thank the entire team at Kidneys for 
Communities for their work not only this month but year-round. They 
have done a terrific job supporting this effort to ensure our 
firefighters and other first responders receive the support they need.
  Kidney disease affects tens of millions of Americans in every 
neighborhood, town, city, district, and state in the Nation. It demands 
the attention of every Member of this Congress.
  That is why, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking 
Kidneys for Communities for making America a healthier, stronger 
Nation.

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