Recognizing America's Blood Centers and its member organizations for their commitment to providing over half the Nation with a safe and adequate volunteer donor blood supply, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in order to extend a warm thanks and offer my heartfelt appreciation to those who work tirelessly to ensure the well-being of all Americans. The purpose of House Resolution 220 is to give credit where credit is due; to pay our respect

to those who provide life-giving assistance to those in need. I would personally like to thank America's Blood Centers and its Member Organizations for 43 years of providing blood products and services to over 3,300 hospitals across the country.

I am extremely proud to say my district is home to members of America's Blood Centers. The Delta Blood Bank in San Joaquin County is a founding member of America's Blood Centers. The Delta Blood Bank serves 18 hospitals throughout four California counties. And just as the demand for assistance never rests, the Delta Blood Bank center is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. This community blood bank accepts donations throughout our beautiful central valley from draw sites located in Stockton, Manteca, Lodi and my hometown of Tracy.

Delta Blood Bank's diligent effort to collect, process, store and distribute safe and reliable blood and blood components to every patient in need has not gone unnoticed. America's Blood Centers has been at the frontline to respond to disaster, military and everyday demands. The America's Blood Centers has extended its helping hand beyond the needs of thousands of American hospitals by providing blood to our troops with the life-giving assistance they need. They play an integral role in ensuring the safety of those risking their lives to protect our great country.

House Resolution 220 recognizes the contribution America's Blood Centers has made to the welfare of all Americans. Additionally, there are other organizations that contribute, such as the Pleasanton Blood Center, affiliated with the American Red Cross.

Again, on behalf of the 4.5 million who benefit from its services each and every year, I would like to thank America's Blood Centers, particularly Delta Blood Bank, which serves my hometown and home district in California. And with such tragedies as hurricanes Katrina and Rita and continuing struggles in the Global War on Terror, the role the America's Blood Centers will play in the welfare of Californians and all Americans will be as important as ever.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I am proud to support H. Res. 220, which recognizes America's Blood Centers. Founded 43 years ago, America's Blood Centers are North America's largest network of nonprofit, community blood centers. Seventy-six blood centers operate 600-plus collection sites in 45 States and provide nearly half the United States volunteer donor blood supply.

There are some facts about blood and blood donation that I think are worth noting. Four and a half million Americans would die each year without lifesaving blood transfusions. Approximately 32,000 pints of blood are used each day in our country. Every 3 seconds someone needs blood. One out of every 10 people in the United States entering a hospital needs blood. Just one pint of donated blood can help save as many as three people's lives. About 3 gallons of blood supports the entire Nation's blood needs for just 1 minute.

We all expect blood to be there for us when we need it, and that time is too often unexpected. Whether it is a 7-year-old battling leukemia, a father injured in a serious car accident, or a 65-year-old woman having heart surgery, every day hundreds of people in our communities need blood; and there is, of course, no substitute for it.

H. Res. 220 recognizes blood heroes who are ensuring that the safest possible blood is readily available whenever and wherever needed. As we recognize the important efforts of the blood centers, it is also important to recognize and encourage those Americans who routinely give blood. Both blood donors and blood centers are an essential lifeline for all of us.

I urge the entire House to vote ``yes'' for this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 220, a resolution I sponsored to recognize America's Blood Centers and its member organizations for their commitment to providing the United States with a safe and adequate volunteer donor blood supply. I would also like to thank the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass) for his support of this resolution.

America's Blood Centers was founded in 1962 and is North America's largest network of community-based, federally licensed, not-for-profit blood centers. With locations in 45 States, America's Blood Centers collects almost half the United States blood supply, more than any other organization. They provide blood products and services to more than 3,300 United States hospitals and serve more than 150 million people.

America's Blood Centers have been a national leader in meeting increased national blood supply needs, developing new donor recruitment tools, and making blood donation a societal priority. They are often the first responders to national disasters and ensure that needed resources are available in times of crisis. And, in fact, Mr. Speaker as a cardiac surgeon and a surgeon with extensive experience in open heart surgery and in trauma, I have seen directly the benefit that these blood centers provide.

Additionally, America's Blood Centers are currently engaged in developing new tests and technologies to further assure the safety of the Nation's blood supply and are actively engaged in biomedical research in the area of transfusion medicine.

The resolution before us will ensure that America's Blood Centers receives the national recognition they deserve for their work, work that saves lives every day. Their services are invaluable, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 220) recognizing America's Blood Centers and its member organizations for their commitment to providing over half the Nation with a safe and adequate volunteer donor blood supply, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material therein.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 220, a resolution recognizing America's Blood Centers and their member organizations and their commitment to providing over half the Nation with a safe and adequate donor blood supply.

Each year more than 4\1/2\ million Americans need a blood transfusion; and for many, donated blood will be a lifesaver. One out of every three people will need donated blood in their lifetime. For many of us, we do our part by participating in blood drives, but we do not fully recognize the significance of our action.

What can take 15 minutes to donate a pint of blood can literally save the life of a mother, a next-door neighbor, or a child. An ample blood supply is also critically important to ensuring we are prepared to respond to health care emergencies.

I thank the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany) for offering this resolution. This is a great resolution, and I urge all Members to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the efforts of America's Blood Centers and especially the center in the 16th District of Texas, which I represent.

For more than a half a century, United Blood Services of El Paso and Southern New Mexico has been serving our community as the sole source of blood supplies for blood transfusions and trauma surgeries. The United Blood Services has a staff of over 90 handling more than 30,000 donations a year.

When a fire destroyed our local United Blood Services facilities in 2003, there was a serious shortage of blood supply not only for my district, but also for the Southern New Mexico region. The fire destroyed close to 500 units of blood.

Fortunately, an emergency blood drive was quickly organized to obtain enough supply to serve those in need without having to rely on surrounding areas. I applaud not only the efforts of the center, but also those of my constituents who came out to donate during the time of critical need. The incident was incredibly unfortunate, but it did remind us all of what our blood center means to El Paso, and what the community means to the blood center.

Mr. Speaker, with the life-saving services that the center in my district and those around the country provide, it is only appropriate to recognize the important work of America's Blood Centers today. Therefore, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this very worthwhile resolution.