PRINTER'S NO. 698
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
100
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY PHILLIPS-HILL, KEARNEY, BROWNE, BROOKS, FONTANA,
SCAVELLO, J. WARD, MARTIN, COLLETT, BARTOLOTTA AND COSTA,
MAY 3, 2021
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, MAY 3, 2021
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of April 2021 as "Pennsylvania Donate Life
Month."
WHEREAS, Organ and tissue transplantation has been recognized
as a corrective and lifesaving medical procedure; and
WHEREAS, Each person who donates organs, eyes and tissues can
potentially save or enhance more than 75 lives and take 8 people
off the organ transplant waiting list; and
WHEREAS, It is estimated that more than 107,000 people are
awaiting lifesaving organ transplants in the United States; and
WHEREAS, On average, 20 people will die each day in the
United States waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 7,000 men, women and children are
awaiting lifesaving organ transplants in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, In 2020, approximately 12,000 individuals in the
United States, including 687 individuals and families in this
Commonwealth, elected to support the gift of life through organ
donation after death; and
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WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has 18 transplant centers and is
recognized as the world leader in organ and tissue
transplantation; and
WHEREAS, State law enables citizens to donate their organs
and tissues through placing the donor designation on the
driver's licenses or State identification cards and also allows
relatives to consent to the donation of organs and tissues of a
deceased family member; and
WHEREAS, A vital component of the continuation and
advancement of organ transplantation is the recovery of donor
organs and tissues; and
WHEREAS, The lifesaving work of transplant team medical
professionals and researchers to improve techniques and
antirejection drugs has resulted in a significant increase
success rate for organ transplantations; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is a national and international leader
in the field of donation and transplantation, but the number of
people in need of transplants far exceeds the number of organs
and the amount of tissue available; and
WHEREAS, Despite the progress made in Pennsylvania's Organ
and Tissue Donor Awareness Program through the efforts of the
Commonwealth's organ procurement organizations, Gift of Life
Donor Program and the Center for Organ Recovery and Education
and their partnering hospitals and exceptional health care
workers, the growing demand for donated organ and tissues for
transplantations represents a public health issue which merits
action; and
WHEREAS, If this Commonwealth is to remain a leader in organ
donation and transplantation, it is necessary that the
pronouncements and public policies of the State government both
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encourage and promote organ and tissue donation; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of April 2021
as "Pennsylvania Donate Life Month"; and be it further
RESOLVED, The Senate support organ donation and strongly
encourage all residents of this Commonwealth to designate
themselves as an organ and tissue donor on their drivers'
licenses or State identification cards or by registering online
at www.donatelifepa.org and share the decision to do so with
their families and friends.
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