[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9415 of April 1, 2016

National Donate Life Month, 2016

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

By becoming an organ donor, one person can save the lives of up to eight
people and improve the lives of dozens--mothers and daughters, fathers
and sons, brothers and sisters--who are desperately in need of a
transplant. During National Donate Life Month, we lift up the thousands
of selfless individuals across America who are living or registered
organ donors. And as we honor those who have saved lives in the past by
donating organs, we recommit to supporting the researchers, innovators,
advocates, and medical professionals working to reduce the number of
people awaiting vital organ transplants.
A rising demand for organs exists without enough organs to meet it,
making the urgency for those willing and able to donate even more
critical and the need for innovation and support even more imperative.
My Administration has striven to support donors and recipients and to
expand the availability of organs for transplant. In 2010, the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), building on efforts
within the transplant community, launched a nationwide kidney exchange
program to bring together pairs of kidney donors and recipients in an
effort to increase the quality and quantity of kidney transplants. HHS
has also made more financial support available to low-income living
donors to help cover expenses like travel and lodging costs that are
often incurred throughout the donation process. The Affordable Care Act
offers greater security to living donors by prohibiting insurers from
denying health coverage to someone with a preexisting condition--
donating an organ may have previously been considered a preexisting
condition and prevented individuals from obtaining the care they
deserved after selflessly giving an organ to someone in need. And in

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2013, I signed the bipartisan HOPE Act, paving the way for the first
transplants in the United States between HIV-positive donors and
recipients--and the first of these life-saving transplants took place
earlier this year.
Anyone can indicate their desire to be a donor, regardless of age
or medical history, and I encourage all Americans to consult their
family members and communicate their choice. More information on
donation and opportunities to register can be found by visiting
www.OrganDonor.gov.
Through Medicare, the Federal Government spends nearly $35 billion each
year to care for the more than half a million patients with end-stage
kidney failure in the United States. Increasing accessibility to organs
can save lives while helping to defray overall healthcare costs. As we
work to get more people off of the waiting list and into the operating
room for a transplant, we are continuing to invest in researching new
and innovative ways to address this critical issue. Over the span of
three recent years, we invested nearly $3 billion into regenerative
medicine research, and we are making great strides in advancing
treatment and improving technological capabilities. Additionally, we
have opened new doors of collaboration with businesses, universities,
and foundations to progress our prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of
infectious diseases. Our Nation has taken bold steps in recent years,
and we will continue working to reduce the organ waiting list by
building on our efforts to utilize regeneration and other methods for
ensuring a balance between the supply and demand of vital organs.
Last year, the United States exceeded 30,000 annual organ transplants
for the first time. Progress has been made and great promise exists, but
much work remains to help the more than 120,000 Americans on the organ
waiting list. This month, let us remember those we have lost and provide
support to all who continue to wait and hope. Across government,
industry, academia, private organizations, and the medical and
philanthropic communities, we must all do our part to lift up donors,
donor families, and patients by supporting efforts to shorten the organ
waiting list. Together, we can improve and save lives by celebrating
those who give of themselves--whether as living donors or as registered
donors--to provide the greatest gift there is to offer.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2016 as National
Donate Life Month. I call upon health care professionals, volunteers,
educators, government agencies, faith-based and community groups, and
private organizations to join forces to boost the number of organ, eye,
and tissue donors throughout our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of April,
in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA