Political Quotes

“I rise in support of H.R. 3926, the Organ Donation and Recovery Improvement Act, of which I am a cosponsor. Let me just mention several numbers, that for me, say it all about why we need incentives to increase organ donations across the nation. In Michigan, as of the first of this month, 2544 individuals are on the waiting list for an organ donation. Since the first of the year, 108 individuals received a donated organ and, sadly, 19 people have already died because there was no organ available to save them. These are our constituents, our families, our friends. I know the Transplant Society of Michigan, our state's organ procurement organization, is working hard to increase donations. But they could use a helping hand, as could OPOs across the nation. The Organ Donation and Recovery Improvement Act we will vote on today is a very good start. The key to donation is public education and awareness. This legislation gives the Secretary of Health and Human Services the ability to award grants to States for the purpose of assisting States in carrying out organ donor awareness, public education and outreach activities designed to increase the number of organ donors.”