AJR32,,112023 ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION 32 April 18, 2023 - Introduced 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, cosponsored by Senators Ballweg, Agard, Carpenter, Cowles, Hesselbein, Roys, Spreitzer, Taylor and Felzkowski. Referred to Committee on Rules.
AJR32,,22Relating to: proclaiming April 2023 as Donate Life Month in Wisconsin. AJR32,,33Whereas, 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 AJR32,,44Whereas, three million Wisconsinites are registered as organ, tissue, and eye donors in Wisconsin; and AJR32,,55Whereas, the list of people awaiting organ transplants in Wisconsin numbers 1,700 names and, nationally, 110,000 individuals are on the national organ transplant waiting list; and AJR32,,66Whereas, every nine minutes, another man, woman, or child is added to the national transplant waiting list; and AJR32,,77Whereas, in 2022, the United States reached a historic milestone of one million organ transplants, more than any other country in the world; and AJR32,,88Whereas, despite the success of current efforts, around 17 people die each day waiting for an organ transplant; and AJR32,,99Whereas, in 2021, 6,000 people died on the transplant waiting list. Around 85 percent of patients in need are waiting for a kidney; and AJR32,,1010Whereas, nearly 29,000 units of red 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 annually; and AJR32,,1111Whereas, 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 AJR32,,1212Whereas, almost every individual, regardless of age, is a potential organ, tissue, bone marrow, or blood donor; and AJR32,,1313Whereas, transplantation has become an element of mainstream medicine to prolong and enhance life; now, therefore, be it AJR32,,1414Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin Legislature proclaim April 2023 as Donate Life Month in the state of Wisconsin, and commend this observance to all citizens; and, be it further AJR32,,1515Resolved, 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 AJR32,,1616Resolved, That the members of the legislature thank the nearly three 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 AJR32,,1717Resolved, That the senate chief clerk shall provide a copy of this joint resolution to Donate Life Wisconsin, Inc.
