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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, April is National Donate Life Month, and on April |
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17, 2007, the Texas Transplantation Society has invited transplant |
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physicians, surgeons, nurses, organ recipients, donors, and family |
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members of donors to celebrate Donate Life Texas Day at the Capitol; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, During the month of April, people across the state |
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and nation are making special efforts to recognize those who have |
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saved lives by becoming organ, tissue, marrow, and blood donors and |
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to encourage other Americans to follow their fine example; although |
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the decision to donate is often difficult, this compassionate |
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gesture has the power to grant second chances to those in need; and |
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WHEREAS, The TTS and the Department of State Health Services |
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strive to educate all Texans about the critical shortage of organ |
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donors and the lifesaving benefits of transplantation; more than |
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95,000 men, women, and children nationwide, including more than |
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7,000 Texans, are anxiously awaiting organs for lifesaving |
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transplants, and this number grows daily; meanwhile, thousands of |
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patients will die before a donor becomes available; and |
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WHEREAS, The 79th Legislature created the D.E.A.R. Program of |
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Texas, which in conjunction with the DSHS, the Texas Department of |
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Transportation, the Department of Public Safety, and the private |
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sector, allows Texans to register their intent to donate organs, |
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tissue, or eyes in the event of death; the Honorable Glenda Dawson, |
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the recipient of a kidney donation, understood firsthand the urgent |
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need for organ donors; drawing on her own personal experience, she |
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worked to inform others of the crucial benefits of transplantation, |
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and her story remains an inspiration to countless people; members |
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of the legislature are working to honor the late representative's |
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legacy by renaming the D.E.A.R. program the Glenda Dawson Donate |
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Life-Texas registry; and |
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WHEREAS, Myriad state employees are involved in the effort to |
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promote organ donation, including the men and women on the front |
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lines of DPS driver's license offices and TxDOT tax offices who |
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daily communicate to the public the benefits of transplantation; |
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moreover, medical professionals and members of the Texas |
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Transplantation Society play an important role in facilitating |
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transplants; and |
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WHEREAS, Those visiting the Capitol today come together to |
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honor an act of tremendous generosity and selflessness, and their |
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tireless efforts in support of organ donation help bring transplant |
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patients closer to realizing their wishes for longer and healthier |
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lives; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize April as National Donate Life Month, |
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commend the many individuals who have chosen to become organ |
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donors, and encourage all Texans to consider giving the gift of life |
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through organ donation. |