[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5272]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Costa) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize April as National 
Donate Life Month.
  As the co-chair of the Congressional Organ and Tissue Donation 
Awareness Caucus, I believe it is important to help people understand 
that, while organ and tissue donation is serious, just like any other 
medical or surgical procedure, there are many misconceptions and myths 
surrounding the donor process, and it is important that we educate the 
public about them.
  Technology today allows us to do amazing things in the donation of 
organs and tissues, and new drugs have advanced the opportunity to 
ensure that these organs, these tissues, are not rejected.
  My hope today, as a member of the caucus, is to encourage Americans 
to get educated and understand the dire need for tissue and organ 
donations. This is an opportunity to save lives.
  Sadly, there are over 120,000 men, women, and children who are on 
waiting lists for lifesaving organ donations around the country. For 
these patients, an organ donation simply is a matter of life and death.
  I would like to commend the organizations that raise awareness and 
that are on the front lines about these important issues every single 
day throughout our country.
  I would like to thank the National Kidney Foundation and the American 
Liver Foundation for their efforts to raise awareness, support 
patients, and support funding for advancements in this field. They are 
always trying to advance the opportunities for lifesaving organs that 
will make a difference in our communities throughout the Nation.

                          ____________________