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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 414
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WHEREAS, Through medical expertise and advances in organ |
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and tissue transplants, more lives are being saved, improved, and |
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prolonged than ever before; and |
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WHEREAS, Such transplants are made possible by organ |
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donations from deceased and living persons, a noble act that |
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gives multitudes of recipients a second chance at life; and |
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WHEREAS, The Glenda Dawson Donate Life Texas registry, |
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created by the Texas Senate and Texas House of Representatives in |
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2005, provides a method for willing donors to record legal consent |
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for organ, eye, and tissue donation, thereby lifting the |
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decision-making burden from families at the time of a loved one's |
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death; and |
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WHEREAS, More than seven million Texans have joined the |
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registry to date, thanks in part to partnerships forged with the |
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Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Department of |
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Transportation that enable citizens to sign up during the |
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driver's license, ID, and vehicle registration processes; |
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gratitude for this endeavor is also owed to the tireless public |
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education efforts of the donation community and their passionate |
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volunteers in Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, While the Glenda Dawson Donate Life Texas |
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registry is a notable step, more work remains to be done to ensure |
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that the wishes of every potential donor are carried out; the |
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wait for a lifesaving organ transplant continues for more than |
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123,000 people nationwide, 21 of whom are expected to die before |
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this day is over; and |
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WHEREAS, Individuals representing the Texas Transplantation |
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Society and the Glenda Dawson Donate Life Texas registry are united |
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in their mission to educate Texans about the critical and rising |
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need for donors, the transformative impact of donation, and the |
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simple steps that can be taken to register; in 2014, 739 people |
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became organ donors in Texas, resulting in successful transplant |
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operations for 2,600 patients; and |
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WHEREAS, The choice of registering as an organ donor is one |
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that can provide hope beyond measure to men, women, and children in |
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need, and those who have committed to the goal of promoting and |
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facilitating donations truly merit special commendation; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th |
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Legislature, hereby recognize March 23, 2015, as Donate Life |
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Texas Day at the State Capitol, pay tribute to transplant donors |
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and their families, and encourage all Texans to consider giving |
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the gift of life through organ donation. |
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Zaffirini |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on March 23, 2015. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |