HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 114

RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF APRIL 2024 AS "NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH" IN DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, approximately 103,000 Americans are currently on the national transplant waiting list; more than 5,000 men, women, and children in the Gift of Life Donor Program’s region are awaiting a life-saving transplant; and

WHEREAS, another person is added to the waiting list every 8 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 2023, more than 46,000 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 , the 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, 49 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 health crisis is to educate and to encourage citizens to commit to the following actions: register your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor in the National Donate Life Registry at www.registerme.org or at the local DelDOT center, and learn more about living donation at DonateLife.net; 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.

NOW, THEREFORE:

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 2024 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 2024 as "National Donate Life Month" in Delaware.