[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2071]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



    INTRODUCTION OF THE GIFT OF LIFE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 14, 2001

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to introduce the ``Gift of Life 
Congressional Medal Act of 2001.'' This legislation creates a 
commemorative medal to honor organ donors and their survivors. Senator 
Frist, a heart and lung transplant surgeon himself, is introducing 
companion legislation in the Senate.
  There is a serious shortage of available and suitable organ donors. 
Nearly 75,000 people are currently waiting for an organ transplant, and 
every 14 minutes a new name is added to the list. Because of low donor 
rates, over 6,000 people died in 1999 for lack of a suitable organ. 
Incentive programs and public education are critical to maintaining and 
increasing the number of organs donated each year.
  We are very happy to hear that Secretary Thompson has made this a 
priority issue that he plans to address during his first 100 days as 
Secretary. He has promised to mount ``a national campaign to raise 
awareness of organ donation'', and to ``do more to recognize families 
who donate organs of a loved one.'' The Gift of Life Congressional 
Medal Act is a great opportunity for us to work with Secretary Thompson 
to draw attention to this life-saving issue. It sends a clear message 
that donating one's organs is a self-less act that should receive the 
profound respect of the Nation.
  The legislation allows the Health and Human Service's Organ 
Procurement Organization (OPO) and the Organ Procurement and 
Transplantation Network (OPTN) to establish a nonprofit fund to design, 
produce, and distribute a Congressional Medal of Honor for organ donors 
or their family members. Enactment of this legislation would have no 
cost to the Federal Government. The Treasury Department would provide 
an initial loan to OPTN for start-up purposes, which would be fully 
repaid. From then on, the program would be self-sufficient through 
charitable donations. The donor or family member would have the option 
of receiving the Congressional Gift of Life Medal. Families would also 
be able to request that a Member of Congress, state or local official, 
or community leader award the medal to the donor or donor's survivors.
  Physicians can now transplant kidneys, lungs, pancreas, liver, and 
heart with considerable success. The demand for organs will continue to 
grow with the improvement of medical technologies. According to the 
United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), an average of 9,600 donations 
was made per year between 1995 and 1999. Without expanded efforts to 
increase the supply of organ donation, the supply of suitable organs 
will continue to lag behind the need.
  This is non-controversial, non-partisan legislation to increase organ 
donation. I ask my colleagues to help bring an end to transplant 
waiting lists and recognize the enormous faith and courage displayed by 
organ donors and their families. This bill honors these brave acts, 
while publicizing the critical need for increased organ donations.

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