1-1                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 538

        1-2           WHEREAS, April 20 through April 26, 1997, is National Organ

        1-3     and Tissue Donor Awareness Week, and the Texas Senate is proud to

        1-4     pay tribute to the men and women who have donated organs so that

        1-5     others might live; and

        1-6           WHEREAS, More than 2,124 Texas men, women, and children are

        1-7     currently awaiting transplants of life-saving organs, and the number

        1-8     increases daily; and

        1-9           WHEREAS, The goal of the 1997 campaign is to encourage as many

       1-10     new people to sign donor cards as needed to make up the difference

       1-11     between the number of people who could donate their organs and the

       1-12     number of people who actually do donate their organs each year; and

       1-13           WHEREAS, It is especially important during National Organ

       1-14     and Tissue Donor Awareness Week to educate all Texans about the

       1-15     life-saving power of organ donation and to dispel the myths and

       1-16     misconceptions that prevent people from signing donor cards; and

       1-17           WHEREAS, Organ allocation is both fair and ethical; available

       1-18     organs are matched with people on the waiting list according to

       1-19     blood and tissue type and medical need, among other factors; and

       1-20           WHEREAS, Nationally, nine to 10 people die each day waiting

       1-21     for a life-saving transplant; the National Kidney Foundation is

       1-22     committed to ensuring that every Texan who needs a transplant

       1-23     receives one; now, therefore, be it

        2-1           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

        2-2     75th Legislature, hereby recognize National Organ and Tissue

        2-3     Donor Awareness Week, April 20 through April 26, 1997, and urge

        2-4     all Texans to become aware of the importance of organ donation;

        2-5     and, be it further

        2-6           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for

        2-7     National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week as an expression

        2-8     of the appreciation of the Texas Senate for all those who make this

        2-9     week possible.

       2-10                                                              Barrientos

       2-11                                  ______________________________________

       2-12                                          President of the Senate

       2-13                                       I hereby certify that the above

       2-14                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

       2-15                                  on April 22, 1997.

       2-16                                  ______________________________________

       2-17                                          Secretary of the Senate

       2-18                                  ______________________________________

       2-19                                           Member, Texas Senate