New Jersey-2020-SCR26-Introduced

A Concurrent Resolution urging the President and the Congress of the United States to enact legislation requiring that registered organ donors have priority over those who are not registered donors when donated organs are allocated to potential recipients.

Whereas, Although approximately 45 percent of American adults are registered organ donors, the number of organs donated is insufficient to meet the needs of the many seriously ill children and adults across the country who require organ transplants; and

Whereas, There are currently over 122,000 people waiting for organ transplants in the United States, on average, 22 people die every day while waiting for an organ transplant, and one organ donor can save as many as eight lives; and

Whereas, At least 2.5 million residents of this State have registered as organ or tissue donors, but because of the fragility of transplant organs and medical exigencies, many of those who are registered organ donors will ultimately be unable to donate an organ due to illness, advanced age, or other unforeseeable circumstances that may make their organs unsuitable for transplantation; and

Whereas, Among Western nations, Israel historically had the fewest registered organ donors, and many Israelis traveled abroad for organ transplant surgery; and

Whereas, In 2010, the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, passed legislation that, among other things, established a three-tiered system of transplant priority as follows: first priority for transplant organs is given to living donors and their family members; second priority is given to those who have been registered as organ donors for three years or more; and third priority is given to the family members of registered donors; and

Whereas, Thereafter, the number of Israelis who registered to become organ donors increased significantly, with the number of Israeli living organ donors between 2011 and 2013 increasing 67 percent over the preceding three-year period; and

Whereas, In 1984, Congress passed the National Organ Transplant Act, which established the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network to maintain a national registry for organ match, develop policies regarding organ transplantation, and to allocate organs available for transplant to those on the waiting list in accordance with established medical criteria; and

Whereas, Policies that increase the numbers of organ donors and those registered to be organ donors provide life-saving support and hope to the many patients across the country in urgent need of an organ or tissue transplant, and to those untold numbers who will need a transplant in the future; and

Whereas, In the interest of increasing the number of registered organ and tissue donors in the United States and to address the current shortage of organs and tissues available for transplantation, it is fitting that those who commit to donating an organ by registering as an organ donor are recognized for their sacrifice by benefitting from priority consideration, to the extent medically appropriate, in the event they themselves are in need of an organ transplant; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):

1. The Legislature of New Jersey respectfully urges the President and the Congress of the United States to enact legislation that gives registered organ donors priority over those who are not registered organ donors, when organs are allocated to medically appropriate recipients.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and every member of Congress elected from this State.

STATEMENT

This resolution urges the President and the Congress of the United States to enact legislation requiring that registered organ donors receive priority over those who are not registered organ donors when organs are allocated to potential medically appropriate transplant recipients. At least 2.5 million New Jersey residents are registered organ or tissue donors, but because of the fragility of transplant organs and medical exigencies, many of those who are registered organ donors will ultimately be unable to donate an organ due to illness, advanced age, or other reasons. Currently, over 122,000 people are waiting for organ transplants in the United States, on average, 22 people die every day while waiting for an organ transplant, and one organ donor can save as many as eight lives.

Recent legislation in Israel, among other things, established a three-tiered system of transplant priority, in which first priority is given to living organ donors and their family members; second priority is given to those who have been registered as organ donors for three years or more; and third priority is given to the family members of registered donors. Thereafter, the number of Israeli live organ donors increased dramatically. In an effort to similarly increase organ donation and registration in the United States, this resolution recognizes that those who commit to donating an organ by registering as an organ donor should be recognized for their sacrifice by benefitting from priority consideration, to the extent medically appropriate, in the event that they themselves are in need of a donated organ.