Stephanie Tubbs Jones Gift of Life Medal Act of 2008

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge passage of the ``Stephanie Tubbs Jones Gift of Life Medal Act of 2008,'' and to thank the many colleagues and friends of Stephanie's who joined together to bring this bill to the floor.

Stephanie's life ended as she lived it; by exemplifying concern for the welfare of others. She donated her organs in the waning hours of her life so that the lives of others could continue. In that spirit, this bill creates a commemorative medal for organ donors and their families, recognizing the brave and selfless act of organ donation.

The need for organ donation is critical. Since the national transplant waiting list began, more than 80,000 donation-eligible Americans have died waiting for an organ to become available; in 2007 alone, more than 6,500 people died for lack of a suitable organ.

As an active member of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, Stephanie worked tirelessly to remedy health disparities in our nation. Organ donation is one area where dramatic health disparities exist, which makes this all the more of a fitting tribute.

While minorities donate organs in proportion to their population, the rate of organ donations fails to keep pace with the need for transplants in the population. Minority populations account for close to 50% of the people who are currently waiting for organ transplants.

I'd like to take a moment to recognize the help of former Senate Majority Leader and transplant surgeon Dr. Bill Frist, for whom this bill was named for when it was introduced earlier this year. Dr. Frist is a tireless advocate of organ donors and their families, and worked on behalf of the Gift of Life Medal Act. I appreciate his graciousness in expressing his strong support for renaming the bill, and I would ask the Chair to have Dr. Frist's letter of support inserted into the Record.

I ask my colleagues to help bring an end to transplant waiting lists and recognize the enormous courage displayed by organ donors and their families. This bill honors these brave acts, while publicizing the critical need for increased organ donation, and pays tribute to the selflessness and memory of our colleague. Stephanie's dedication to improving health care should be permanently recognized. I urge passage of the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Gift of Life Medal Act.

Nashville, TN, September 15, 2008.

Hon. Pete Stark,

Chairman, Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, Longworth House

Office Building, Washington, DC.

Hon. Dave Camp,

Ranking Member, Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, Cannon

House Office Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Stark and Ranking Member Camp: Thank you for

your leadership on the Gift of Life Congressional Medal.

Like you, I am truly inspired by those that donate their

organs. I can think of no act that is more honorable or

selfless, and it is befitting of Congress to pass this act to

recognize these outstanding individuals and their families. I

was pleased to sponsor this legislation in the Senate.

It is also extremely fitting to name this legislation in

honor of the late Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones. A

tireless advocate for those in need, she cemented her legacy

by donating her organs and tissue, which will help over 50

individuals. Her act, and the thousands that have come before

it, must be recognized.

Each year, there are nearly 14,000 organs that are donated.

As a transplant surgeon, I have seen first hand how lives are

transformed through these miraculous gifts. For me, it is a

privilege to be part of the transplantation process. I am

continually amazed at the advances in technology that make

transplants more successful every year.

While advances are being made, there are still too few

donors--nearly 100,000 people are waiting on national

transplant lists. To encourage more donors, we should make

every effort to recognize those that make this life-saving

decision. I believe creating a Gift of Life Congressional

medal is critically important to increasing awareness on this

issue.

Again, please accept my sincere appreciate for your work

and strong support for naming the Gift of Life Congressional

Medal Act in honor of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones. It

is a fitting tribute for such and outstanding and committed

woman.

Sincerely,

Dr. William H. Frist.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my strong support of H.R. 6950, the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Gift of Life Medal Act.

I was pleased to work with Chairman Pete Stark to craft this bill that recognizes those that have donated their organs, and gave the gift of life. And it is a fitting tribute to name this bill in honor of our late colleague, Stephanie Tubbs Jones. A dedicated public servant to the end, she too gave the Gift of Life, helping over 50 individuals.

Enacting this bill will give the thousands of Americans who also donated their organs appropriate recognition for their tremendous gift by presenting them with a Congressionally-sponsored medal. Each year, individuals donate approximately 14,000 organs. This is an amazing success and they should be recognized. Yet there are still nearly 100,000 individuals waiting for transplants.

In order to further encourage individuals to consider organ donation, Congress must publicly thank those that have made this selfless and living saving decision.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank Former Senate Majority Leader, Dr. Bill Frist. As a transplant surgeon and sponsor of this legislation in previous years, Dr. Frist helped to encourage greater organ donation. Mr. Stark and I introduced an earlier version of this bill in honor of Dr. Frist, who has endorsed H.R. 6950. Enclosed is a copy of Dr.

Finally, I want to thank the Tubbs Jones family for allowing this bill to be named in her honor. I am proud that we will pass this bill to ensure that through tragedy, lives will be saved and honored.

Nashville, TN,

September 15, 2008.

Hon. Pete Stark,

Chairman, Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, Longworth House

Office Building, Washington, DC.

Hon. Dave Camp,

Ranking Member, Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, Cannon

House Office Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Stark and Ranking Member Camp: Thank you for

your leadership on the Gift of Life Congressional Medal.

Like you, I am truly inspired by those that donate their

organs. I can think of no act that is more honorable or

selfless, and it is befitting of Congress to pass this act to

recognize these outstanding individuals and their families. I

was pleased to sponsor this legislation in the Senate.

It is also extremely fitting to name this legislation in

honor of the late Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones. A

tireless advocate for those in need, she cemented her legacy

by donating her organs and tissue, which will help over 50

individuals. Her act, and the thousands that have come before

it, must be recognized.

Each year, there are nearly 14,000 organs that are donated.

As a transplant surgeon, I have seen firsthand how lives are

transformed through these miraculous gifts. For me, it is a

privilege to be part of the transplantation process. I am

continually amazed at the advances in technology that make

transplants more successful every year.

While advances are being made, there are still too few

donors--nearly 100,000 people are waiting on national

transplant lists. To encourage more donors, we should make

every effort to recognize those that make this life-saving

decision. I believe creating a Gift of Life Congressional

Medal is critically important to increasing awareness on this

issue.

Again, please accept my sincere appreciation for your work

and strong support for naming the Gift of Life Congressional

Medal Act in honor of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones. It

is a fitting tribute for such an outstanding and committed

woman.

Sincerely,

William H. Frist.

Mr. Speaker, I speak today on a very close subject to my heart, House Resolution 6950, a bill to establish the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Gift of Life Medal for organ donors and the family of organ donors. Congresswoman Tubbs Jones was a rare breed of person who not only talked the talk, but walked the walk.

Tragedy struck Congress a few weeks ago when Congresswoman Tubbs Jones was taken from us. This brought attention to an issue of vital importance to her and the Nation. Organ transplantation is the greatest gift a person can give. While a majority of them happen while both the donor and the recipient are alive, a large number happen after death. Unfortunately these organs, such as the heart, lung, liver, and kidney, among others, are very hard to come by. In the Congresswoman's home State, only 53 percent of the population was a registered organ donor. This is a good start but we must go further.

When a loved one dies, it is never a happy moment; experiences like this always bring sadness and sorrow. When that loved one's death can serve as a beacon of hope for another, it does not lessen the sadness; it allows the family to have a good, if small, memory of the loss of their loved one. When Congresswoman Tubbs Jones passed away, we were all deeply saddened but I think I can speak for more than a few of my fellow Members of Congress when I express the joy and pride I felt when I learned that after years of advocating for organ transplantation, Congresswoman Tubbs Jones left all of her vital organs to those in need.

Organ transplantation needs to increase in this country. With currently over 100,000 people on the transplant list waiting for organs, we can not afford to wait to act any longer. Currently, African Americans make up about 12 percent of the Nation's population and about 12 percent of the patients who donate. However, of all the patients requiring a transplant, 23 percent of them are African American. This disparity is a growing epidemic and must be resolved.

This bill will do three wonderful things and help the cause that the Congresswoman fought for in all her years serving Ohio. One, it will honor the life of an unwavering advocate of transplant. Naming the medal after her will show all those who come later, that this was a woman deep with passion about this important issue. It will shine a light on a life that helped shine a light on others.

Second, this bill will honor those, who like the Congresswoman, have showed their true patriotism to their fellow man or woman and shared with them the greatest gift. These medals are a way that the Federal Government, on behalf of its people, to begin to thank Americans who commit themselves to being organ donors.

Lastly this bill will help raise awareness for minority health issues. It was found that African Americans make up a disproportional number of patients requiring transplants and that they wait, on average, longer to receive an organ. When they do finally receive this opportunity, they are sicker and the success rate is not what it could be. We can, and must, do more.

Mr. Speaker, we can do something to help the millions of men and women around the world waiting for organ transplants. We should also move quickly to honor those who have already given the greatest gift there is. As Albert Einstein once said, ``Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile'' and no one exemplified this better than Stephanie Tubbs Jones. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill to honor her.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6950) to establish the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Gift of Life Medal for organ donors and the family of organ donors.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on H.R. 6950.

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

It is with great humility and respect that I present for favorable consideration H.R. 6950, the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Gift of Life Medal Act of 2008.

Our friend, our respected colleague, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, worked tirelessly for her district, for her community and for people who are underrepresented. As a constant advocate for justice and peace, as a very proud member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, she was a fervent supporter and leader of efforts to reduce health disparities in our Nation.

This legislation directs the Treasury Department to design and produce a commemorative medal that the Department of Health and Human Services will award to organ donors or to a surviving family member, which is especially fitting to be named in honor of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones for a couple of reasons:

Organ donation is an area where dramatic health disparities still exist. She, herself, was an organ donor, and over 50 beneficiaries have benefited from her gift of life.

The number of Americans affected by shortages of suitable organs for donation is considerable. Nearly 100,000 people are currently waiting for organ transplants, and nearly 2,000 of these are children under 18. The national waiting list grows substantially every year. Since the waiting list began, over 80,000 donation-eligible Americans have died while waiting for an organ to become available. In 2007 alone, over 6,500 people died for lack of a suitable organ.

The men and women who elect to become organ donors are heroes and sheroes just like our friend and colleague. They have the opportunity to give the gift of life to thousands of Americans who are suffering from debilitating and lethal diseases.

While the gift of a donor is priceless, the enactment of this bill would have no cost to the Federal Government as funding for the medals would come from charitable donations.

I would reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, many thanks are due to Representative Pete Stark, the chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, who quickly organized this bill in honor of our colleague.

Also, many thanks go to former Senate majority leader and transplant surgeon Bill Frist for whom this bill was named in an earlier version in this Congress. Now, while in the Senate, Dr. Frist worked hard on behalf of organ donors and their families. He supported renaming the bill for Representative Tubbs Jones. Earlier versions of this bill have been endorsed by the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations, by the American Society of Transplantation, by the American Association of Transplant Surgeons, by the National Kidney Foundation, by the American Association of Kidney Patients, by the Organization of Transplant Professionals, and by the Transplant Recipients International Organization.

I strongly urge passage of this bill.

I would ask the lady if she has any further speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to applaud House and Senate passage by unanimous consent of H.R. 7198, the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Gift of Life Medal Act of 2008. Representative Tubbs Jones' life ended as she lived it; by exemplifying concern for the welfare of others. She donated her organs in the waning hours of her life so that the lives of others could continue. In that spirit, this legislation creates a commemorative medal for organ donors and their families, recognizing the brave and selfless act of organ donation. It is a fitting tribute to her, and I look forward to seeing this program get up and running.

This bill is a modified version of H.R. 6950, which passed the House on September 25, 2008. We modified the bill in order to address concerns from the other body and ensure its passage.

Unfortunately, in modifying the bill, we had to delete findings included in H.R. 6950. I ask to insert these findings into the Record.

(1) Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones was dedicated to eliminating health disparities and protecting vulnerable populations.

(2) Through her service on the Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Health, she was a strong voice for those who were poor, elderly, racial and ethnic minorities, and disenfranchised.

(3) Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones' concern for others was demonstrated by the decision to donate her organs, so that as her life ended, the lives of others continued.

(4) There are currently 99,625 candidates for organ donation on the national transplant waiting list. Every 16 minutes, a new name is added to such list. Sixteen persons die each day waiting for a life saving organ transplant.

(5) Minority populations account for nearly 50 percent of those on the national transplant waiting list.

(6) Diseases that can lead to organ failure, such as hypertension and diabetes, are found more frequently in ethnic minority populations than in the general population.

(7) While minorities donate organs in proportion to their population, the rate of organ donations fails to keep pace with the need for transplants in the population. African Americans, for example, represent about 13 percent of the population and 12 percent of organ donors, but comprise roughly 23 percent of individuals on national transplant waiting list for kidney transplants.

(8) Transplantation success rates are higher when organs are matched between people

sharing the same racial and ethnic background.

(9) Because of the disparities in the need for organs, minorities are more likely to wait longer to find a successful match and are more likely to be sicker when an organ is found.

(10) An increase in minority organ donations would decrease the waiting time and increase the likelihood of successful transplantations for minorities.