H.R. No. 544
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
 
         WHEREAS, Organ donations save countless lives in Texas and
  the United States each year, but there is a critical shortage of
  organs available for transplant; and
         WHEREAS, Statistics demonstrate the urgent need for organ
  donors, with over 110,000 individuals currently on the national
  waiting list for transplants, more than 10,000 of whom reside in
  Texas; a person is added to the list every 11 minutes, and each day
  18 people die while waiting for organs to become available; and
         WHEREAS, A single donor can save up to eight lives by giving
  their heart, liver, pancreas, kidneys, lungs, and small bowels to
  patients in dire need of these crucial organs; additionally, tissue
  transplants from the donor can be used to treat severe burns,
  injuries, and impaired vision in another 50 recipients; and
         WHEREAS, In 1995, Rodney DeBaun and his wife, Isibelle,
  started the David Nicklas Organ Donor Awareness Foundation; named
  in honor of the young man whose heart was donated to Mr. DeBaun,
  this nonprofit organization is dedicated to narrowing the gap
  between transplant patients and the nearest transplant hospital;
  for the first five years, the foundation achieved this mission by
  maintaining two airplanes, one to fly patients and their families
  to the hospital at any time of the day or night, and the other to
  perform at air shows, generating money and increasing awareness of
  this serious medical issue; and
         WHEREAS, Wanting to permanently endow the foundation,
  Mr. DeBaun built The Landings of Carrier Parkway apartment complex
  in 2000; the majority of the 281 units are rented out to bring in
  funds, but at least five are provided free of charge to out-of-town
  transplant patients and their families; over the years, more than
  30 transplant recipients have lived in the complex and benefited
  from its proximity to The University of Texas Southwestern Medical
  Center; and
         WHEREAS, For the last two decades, the Nicklas Foundation has
  worked tirelessly to help transplant patients obtain essential
  medical care and to raise awareness of the lifesaving power of organ
  and tissue donation, and in so doing, it has contributed
  immeasurably to the health and well-being of many residents of the
  Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
  Legislature hereby recognize February 24, 2015, as Donor Day at the
  State Capitol and commend the David Nicklas Organ Donor Awareness
  Foundation and the other individuals, organizations, and agencies
  involved in this worthy endeavor; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for the Nicklas Foundation as an expression of high regard
  by the Texas House of Representatives.
 
  Anderson of Dallas
 
 
Straus Guerra Otto
 
Allen Guillen Paddie
 
Alonzo Gutierrez Parker
 
Alvarado Harless Paul
 
Anchia Hernandez Peña
 
Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan
 
Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips
 
Ashby Huberty Pickett
 
Aycock Hughes Price
 
Bell Hunter Raney
 
Blanco Isaac Raymond
 
Bohac Israel Reynolds
 
Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle
 
Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi
 
Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
 
Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis
 
Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr.
 
Button King of Parker Rose
 
Canales King of Taylor Sanford
 
Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer
 
Clardy Klick Schofield
 
Coleman Koop Shaheen
 
Collier Krause Sheets
 
Cook Kuempel Sheffield
 
Craddick Landgraf Simmons
 
Crownover Larson Simpson
 
Dale Laubenberg Smith
 
Darby Leach Smithee
 
Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer
 
Davis of Harris Lozano Springer
 
Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson
 
Dukes Márquez Stickland
 
Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria
 
Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris
 
Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt
 
Fallon Menéndez Turner of Collin
 
Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris
 
Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant
 
Farrar Miles VanDeaver
 
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba
 
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
 
Frank Moody Walle
 
Frullo Morrison White of Bell
 
Galindo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler
 
Geren Murphy Workman
 
Giddings Murr Wray
 
Goldman Naishtat Wu
 
Gonzales Nevárez Zedler
 
González Oliveira Zerwas
 
  ______________________________
  Speaker of the House     
 
         I certify that H.R. No. 544 was adopted by the House on February
  24, 2015, by a non-record vote.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House