Elijah Cummings: “I wish to commend the gentlelady from Florida, Representative Karen Thurman, for introducing this resolution. It…”

“I wish to commend the gentlelady from Florida, Representative Karen Thurman, for introducing this resolution. It addresses an issue that is of great importance to me. Last year, I introduced the ``Organ Donor Leave Act,'' which President Clinton signed into law on September 24, 1999. That Act (Public Law 106-56) extends the amount of paid leave a federal employee can use to donate an organ from seven to 30 days. Experience has shown that an organ transplant operation and post-operative recovery of a living donor may require six to eight weeks. Prior to the enactment of this legislation, a lack of leave had served as a significant impediment and disincentive for individuals considering sharing the gift-of-life. As a proponent of organ donations, I sought to encourage not only the federal government, but other public and private employers to support employees who volunteer to undertake the life saving process of donating an organ. Congresswoman Thurman's resolution essentially seeks to do the same.”