Senate Resolution No. 35

Offered by Senators Daley, Bayer, Chang, Santana, Alexander, Ananich, Bizon, Brinks, Bullock, Bumstead, Geiss, Hertel, Hollier, Irwin, Johnson, LaSata, Lauwers, MacDonald, McBroom, McCann, Moss, Nesbitt, Outman, Polehanki,

Schmidt, Shirkey, Stamas, Theis, VanderWall, Victory, Wojno and Zorn

A RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE APRIL 2021 AS DONATE LIFE MONTH

WHEREAS, More than 2,500 Michigan residents are currently waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant and thousands more would benefit from tissue and corneal transplant; and

WHEREAS, Michigan has 5.7 million people on the Organ Donor Registry but over 33 percent of adults have not yet registered to save and heal others; and

WHEREAS, The need for organ, tissue, and eye donations grows daily; and

WHEREAS, Nationwide, an average of 22 people die each day because a donated organ did not become available; and

WHEREAS, The people in Michigan most severely affected by chronic kidney disease include over 2,000 who are waiting for a kidney transplant, and a disproportionate number of them are ethnic minorities; and

WHEREAS, Chronic kidney disease is a major public health burden, particularly in multicultural communities; and

WHEREAS, It is more cost effective to transplant a donated kidney than to treat the symptoms of kidney failure for an extended period of time; and

WHEREAS, Organ, tissue, and eye donation can provide families that are tragically confronted by the death of a loved one, the comfort of knowing the gift of life provides another person with renewed hope for a healthy life; and

WHEREAS, A single organ, tissue, and eye donation can save and improve the lives of up to 75 people; and

WHEREAS, The act of giving the gift of life through organ, tissue, and eye donation to someone facing imminent death or living with blindness or a disability is the ultimate act of generosity and kindness; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the members of this legislative body recognize April 2021 as Donate Life Month; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage all residents to join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, share their decision with their families, friends, and colleagues, and encourage them to do the same.

Secretary of the Senate

Adopted by the Senate, March 24, 2021.