Jon L. Christensen: “I support H. Con. Res. 31, which expresses the sense of the House of the importance of organ, tissue, bone marrow, and…”

“I support H. Con. Res. 31, which expresses the sense of the House of the importance of organ, tissue, bone marrow, and blood donation. In an age of unprecedented scientific advances in medical and behavioral sciences, it is important that we utilize every means at our disposal to save human lives. Each year organ donations save lives--thousands of lives; and scientific surveys indicate that Americans overwhelmingly support organ donation. Despite this fact, the same surveys indicate that Americans are reluctant to donate their organs. This is particularly true among people of color, and even more so for all groups with regard to the donation of bone marrow. Interestingly, the major reason for which respondents indicate reluctance to donate their organs is that they have not given the issue much thought. Herein lies our opportunity to do some good. We must support efforts to educate our constituencies about the necessity of organ, tissue, and bone marrow donation, and the good that these gifts can do. Because gifts are indeed what they are. Just as we use the most modern tools medical science has provided to successfully transplant donated organs and tissue, we must use the tools behavioral science has provided us to change the attitudes of Americans about the necessity of this medical procedure--a procedure which saves the lives of more than 50,000 Americans each year. The lives of many Americans hang in the balance.”