[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 70 (Monday, April 12, 2004)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 19309-19310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8417]



[[Page 19307]]

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Part IV





The President





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Proclamation 7769--National Donate Life Month, 2004
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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 70 / Monday, April 12, 2004 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 19309]]

                Proclamation 7769 of April 8, 2004

                
National Donate Life Month, 2004

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first 
                successful organ transplant in the United States. Since 
                that time, organ and tissue transplantation have 
                significantly increased, and last year, more than 
                25,000 Americans received an organ transplant. National 
                Donate Life Month provides the opportunity to raise 
                awareness about organ and tissue donation and the 
                importance of sharing your decision to donate with your 
                family.

                While medical advances are enabling Americans to 
                receive lifesaving transplants, there are not enough 
                donors to help everyone in need. Last year, close to 
                6,000 Americans died while waiting for organ 
                transplants. Currently, more than 84,000 of our 
                citizens are on the waiting list for a donation, and 
                approximately 30,000 people will be diagnosed with 
                diseases that a bone marrow transplant could cure.

                My Administration is committed to increasing organ and 
                tissue donation. I have included nearly $25 million in 
                my 2005 budget proposal for organ procurement and 
                transplantation efforts at the Department of Health and 
                Human Services and nearly $23 million to support a bone 
                marrow donor registry. In addition, we continue to 
                increase donations through the ``Gift of Life Donation 
                Initiative.'' This campaign encourages businesses and 
                organizations to make information on donation available 
                to their employees, volunteers, and members, provides 
                donor cards for individuals to carry with them, 
                promotes the development of donor registries, and 
                encourages States to educate teenagers on donation 
                through their drivers' education classes. To make organ 
                donation more viable, I recently signed into law the 
                Organ Donation and Recovery Improvement Act. The Act 
                authorizes the awarding of grants for travel 
                reimbursement to potential donors and helps to increase 
                public awareness and education about organ donation 
                programs.

                After a person decides to be a donor, one of the most 
                important things he or she needs to do is talk with 
                family members about this decision. Many opportunities 
                are missed each year because families do not know what 
                their loved ones wanted. During National Donate Life 
                Month, we honor our Nation's organ and tissue donors 
                and their families. Their decision to share the gift of 
                life through America's donor programs serves as a 
                positive example for all our citizens.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim April 2004 as National 
                Donate Life Month. I call upon our citizens to sign an 
                organ and tissue donor card and to be screened for bone 
                marrow donation. I also urge health care professionals, 
                volunteers, educators, government agencies, and private 
                organizations to help raise awareness of the important 
                need for organ and tissue donors in communities 
                throughout our Nation.

[[Page 19310]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand four, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 04-8417
Filed 4-9-04; 9:19 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P