    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 132, 115th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 9715 of March 29, 2018

    National Donate Life Month, 2018

    By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    Americans celebrate the blessing of life in many ways, but perhaps none
    is more transformative than their choice to donate organs or tissue to
    family members, friends, or to people they may not ever meet. During
    National Donate Life Month, we honor our Nation's organ and tissue
    donors for their decision to give the precious gift of life to someone
    in need. We also give thanks to the many remarkable medical
    professionals, scientists, and researchers who have dedicated themselves
    to improving the health of others.
    My Administration supports efforts to raise awareness about the life-
    saving power of organ donation. The Organ Procurement and
    Transplantation Network reports that, in 2017, there were nearly 35,000
    transplants performed, a 3.4 percent increase from 2016, and the fifth
    consecutive record-setting year for transplants in the United States.
    Last year, more than 16,000 living and deceased individuals donated the
    gift of life to someone in need through an organ or tissue donation.
    Every person, regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, or economic
    status, has the power and the potential to transform a life through
    organ and tissue donation. Despite record setting years, we are still
    working to overcome a gap between the availability of organs and people
    in need of an organ donation. Today, nearly 115,000 Americans are
    awaiting a lifesaving transplant, and a new name appears on the national
    transplant waiting list every 10 minutes. Amazingly, 1 donor can save up
    to 8 lives through organ donation and enhance the lives of up to 50
    people through tissue donation. This month, I encourage all Americans to
    consider participating in the gift of life by becoming organ and tissue
    donors.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, 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 2018 as National
    Donate Life Month. I call upon health professionals, volunteers,
    educators, government agencies, faith-based and commu

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    nity groups, and private organizations to help raise awareness of the
    urgent need for organ and tissue donors throughout our Nation.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of
    March, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
    second.
    DONALD J. TRUMP