SPONSOR: |
Rep. Schwartzkopf & Sen. Huxtable & Rep. Dorsey Walker & Rep. Shupe |
Sens. Brown, Buckson, Gay, Hansen, Hocker, Hoffner, Lawson, Lockman, Mantzavinos, S. McBride, Paradee, Pettyjohn, Pinkney, Poore, Richardson, Sokola, Sturgeon, Townsend, Walsh, Wilson |
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 37
RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF APRIL 2023 AS "NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH" IN DELAWARE.
WHEREAS approximately 104,000 Americans are currently on the national transplant waiting list; more than 5,000 men, women, and children in Gift of Life Donor Program’s region are awaiting a life-saving transplant; and
WHEREAS, another person is added to the waiting list every 9 minutes, and on average, 17 people die every day because the organs they need are not donated in time; and
WHEREAS, the organ transplant waiting list includes more than 400 Delawareans while many others benefit from tissue transplants that greatly enhance their quality of life; and
WHEREAS, by becoming an organ, eye, and tissue donor, one individual can save and heal the lives of more than 100 people; and
WHEREAS, 95 percent of the population has indicated that they support organ donation, and there is strong support from healthcare professionals and all organized religions; and
WHEREAS, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), in 2021, more than 40,000 transplants were performed in the United States for the first time ever, a milestone attained through the generosity of donors and their families; and
WHEREAS, since its founding in 1974 , Gift of Life Donor Program has been a world leader in saving and enhancing the lives of those in need of organ and tissue transplantation and is committed to increasing public awareness of the importance of becoming a registered donor; and
WHEREAS, the Gift of Life Donor Program is proud to serve as the Organ Procurement Organization for this region, the most generous region for organ and tissue donation in the United States; and
WHEREAS, more than 161 million United States adults are registered donors; and
WHEREAS, in Delaware, 51 percent have placed the organ donor designation on their driver’s license or state identification card and the number continues to grow thanks to the support of the Division of Motor Vehicles, Department of Health and Social Services, and other state agencies; and
WHEREAS, the most effective way to address this public health crisis is to educate citizens and to encourage them to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors at donors1.org or through Delaware’s Division of Motor Vehicles; and
WHEREAS, National Donate Life Month is celebrated each year during April to encourage Americans to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors and to celebrate those who have saved lives through the gift of donation; and
WHEREAS, during National Donate Life Month, we honor the compassion and generosity of registered donors, donor families and living donors, and recognize the commitment of medical professionals, researchers, innovators, champions, and partners who work tirelessly to save and heal lives through transplantation.
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 152 nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the month of April 2023 is recognized as "National Donate Life Month"; acknowledging the generosity of donors and their families, and support organ, eye, and tissue donation and strongly encourage all Delawareans to become designated organ, eye, and tissue donors.
SYNOPSIS
This Resolution recognizes the month of April 2023 as "National Donate Life Month" in Delaware.