2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
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2023 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 32
April 17, 2023 - Introduced by Senators BALLWEG, AGARD, CARPENTER, COWLES,
HESSELBEIN, ROYS, SPREITZER and TAYLOR, cosponsored by Representatives
NOVAK, SHANKLAND, C. ANDERSON, ANDRACA, ARMSTRONG, BALDEH, BEHNKE,
BINSFELD, CONLEY, CONSIDINE, DITTRICH, DRAKE, EMERSON, JACOBSON, JOERS, S.
JOHNSON, KITCHENS, MAGNAFICI, MURPHY, MURSAU, MYERS, O'CONNOR,
OHNSTAD, PALMERI, RATCLIFF, ROZAR, SPIROS, STEFFEN, STUBBS and TITTL.
Referred to Committee on Senate Organization.
1 Relating to: proclaiming April 2023 as Donate Life Month in Wisconsin.
2 Whereas, each year since 2003, during the month of April, we recognize the
3 critical need for organ, eye, and tissue donation and honor those individuals who
4 have donated life; and
5 Whereas, three million Wisconsinites are registered as organ, tissue, and eye
6 donors in Wisconsin; and
7 Whereas, the list of people awaiting organ transplants in Wisconsin numbers
8 1,700 names and, nationally, 110,000 individuals are on the national organ
9 transplant waiting list; and
10 Whereas, every nine minutes, another man, woman, or child is added to the
11 national transplant waiting list; and
12 Whereas, in 2022, the United States reached a historic milestone of one million
13 organ transplants, more than any other country in the world; and
14 Whereas, despite the success of current efforts, around 17 people die each day
15 waiting for an organ transplant; and
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1 Whereas, in 2021, 6,000 people died on the transplant waiting list. Around 85
2 percent of patients in need are waiting for a kidney; and
3 Whereas, nearly 29,000 units of red blood are used in the United States every
4 day, and blood supply reserves are often low because, while someone needs blood
5 every two seconds, less than 10 percent of the population donates blood annually; and
6 Whereas, a single individual's donation of heart, lungs, liver, kidneys,
7 pancreas, and small intestine can save up to eight lives, and donation of tissue can
8 help save or enhance the lives of as many as 75 recipients; and
9 Whereas, almost every individual, regardless of age, is a potential organ, tissue,
10 bone marrow, or blood donor; and
11 Whereas, transplantation has become an element of mainstream medicine to
12 prolong and enhance life; now, therefore, be it
13 Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the members of the
14 Wisconsin Legislature proclaim April 2023 as Donate Life Month in the state of
15 Wisconsin, and commend this observance to all citizens; and, be it further
16 Resolved, That the members of the legislature call upon the people of
17 Wisconsin to learn about the importance of organ, tissue, bone marrow, and blood
18 donation, to sign up to be a donor in English or Spanish at the Wisconsin donor
19 registry, DonorRegistry.Wisconsin.gov, or through the Wisconsin Division of Motor
20 Vehicles, and to discuss such a decision with their families and friends; and, be it
21 further
22 Resolved, That the members of the legislature thank the nearly three million
23 residents who said “Yes” to becoming an organ, tissue, or eye donor, and especially
24 thank the people and their families who have donated life-saving organs; and, be it
25 further
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1 Resolved, That the senate chief clerk shall provide a copy of this joint
2 resolution to Donate Life Wisconsin, Inc.
3 (END)