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