2021 Senate Joint Resolution 25
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: proclaiming April 2021 as Donate Life Month in the state of Wisconsin.
Whereas, each year since 2003, during the month of April, we recognize the critical need for organ, eye, and tissue donation and honor those individuals who have donated life; and
Whereas, 3 million Wisconsinites are registered as organ, tissue, and eye donors in Wisconsin; and
Whereas, the list of people awaiting organ transplants in Wisconsin numbers more than 2,000 names, about half of whom have waited more than two years, and nationally, 114,000 individuals are on the national organ transplant waiting list; and
Whereas, every 10 minutes, another man, woman, or child is added to the national transplant waiting list; and
Whereas, there were 819 organs transplanted in Wisconsin in 2019; and
Whereas, despite the success of current efforts, around 20 people die each day waiting for an organ transplant; and
Whereas, up to 18,000 people under age 74 are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness where a bone marrow transplant or umbilical cord blood transplant is their best treatment option, and approximately 12,000, more than 10 percent, will not find a marrow donor match within their family and must rely upon the generosity of strangers; and
Whereas, nearly 41,000 units of blood are used in the United States every day, and blood supply reserves are often low because, while someone needs blood every two seconds, less than 10 percent of the population donates blood regularly; and
Whereas, a single individual's donation of heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and small intestine can save up to eight lives, and donation of tissue can help save or enhance the lives of as many as 75 recipients; and
Whereas, almost every individual, regardless of age, is a potential organ, tissue, bone marrow, or blood donor; and
Whereas, transplantation has become an element of mainstream medicine to prolong and enhance life; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the
senate, the assembly concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin Legislature proclaim April 2021 as Donate Life Month in the state of Wisconsin, and commend this observance to all citizens; and, be it further
Resolved, That the members of the legislature call upon the people of Wisconsin to learn about the importance of organ, tissue, bone marrow, and blood donation, to sign up to be a donor in English or Spanish at the Wisconsin donor registry, DonorRegistry.Wisconsin.gov, or through the Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles, and to discuss such a decision with their families and friends; and, be it further
Resolved, That the members of the legislature thank the nearly 3 million residents who said “Yes” to becoming an organ, tissue, or eye donor, and especially thank the people and their families who have donated life-saving organs; and, be it further
Resolved, That the senate chief clerk shall provide a copy of this joint resolution to Donate Life Wisconsin, Inc.
