114 STAT. 2348
PUBLIC LAW 106-505—NOV. 13, 2000
(1) traditionally, Thanksgiving is a time for families to
take time out of their busy lives to come together and to
give thanks for the many blessings in their lives;
(2) approximately 21,000 men, women, and children in
the United States are given the gift of life each year through
transplantation surgery, made possible by the generosity of
organ and tissue donations;
(3) more than 66,000 Americans are awaiting their chance
to prolong their lives by finding a matching donor;
(4) nearly 5,000 of these patients each year (or 13 patients
each day) die while waiting for a donated heart, liver, kidney,
or other organ;
(5) nationwide there are up to 15,000 potential donors
annually, but families' consent to donation is received for less
than 6,000;
(6) the need for organ donations greatly exceeds the supply
available;
(7) designation as an organ donor on a driver's license
or voter's registration is a valuable step, but does not ensure
donation when an occasion arises;
(8) the demand for transplantation will likely increase in
the coming years due to the growing safety of transplantation
surgery due to improvements in technology and drug developments, prolonged life expectancy, and increased prevalence of
diseases that may lead to organ damage and failure, including
hypertension, alcoholism, and hepatitis C infection;
(9) the need for a more diverse donor pool, including a
variety of racial and ethnic minorities, will continue to grow
in the coming years;
(10) the final decision on whether a potential donor can
share the gift of life usually is made by surviving family members regardless of the patient's initial intent;
(11) many Americans have indicated a willingness to donate
their organs and tissues but have not discussed this critical
matter with the family members who are most likely to make
the decision, if the occasion arises, as to whether that person
will be an organ and tissue donor;
(12) some family members may be reluctant to give consent
to donate their deceased loved one's organs and tissues at
a very difficult and emotional time if that person has not
clearly expressed a desire or willingness to do so;
(13) the vast majority of Americans are likely to spend
part of Thanksgiving Day with some of those family members
who would be approached to make such a decision; and
(14) it is fitting for families to spend a portion of that
day discussing how they might give life to others on a day
devoted to giving thanks for their own blessings.
(b) DESIGNATION. —November 23, 2000, Thanksgiving Day, is
hereby designated as a day to "Give Thanks, Give Life" I and to
discuss organ and tissue donation with other family members so
that informed decisions can be made if the occasion to donate
arises.
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