Stephanie Tubbs Jones Gift of Life Medal Act of 2008

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.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 7198 which was received from the House.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read three times and passed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements related to the bill be printed in the Record.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committees on Financial Services and Energy and Commerce be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 7198) to establish the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Gift of Life Medal for organ donors and the family of organ donors, and ask for its immediate consideration.