TITLE: Recognizing March 1, 2011, as Donate Life Texas Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing March 1, 2011, as Donate Life Texas Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, To spread the word about the significance of organ donation, representatives from the Texas Transplantation Society are visiting the State Capitol on March 1, 2011, and celebrating Donate Life Texas Day; and WHEREAS, Statistics demonstrate the urgent need for organ donors; the national waiting lists for transplants include more than 110,000 people, and over 10,000 of them reside in Texas; about 5,600 individuals in the nation and nearly 600 in the state died in 2010 while awaiting an organ transplant; and WHEREAS, It is the goal of the Texas Transplantation Society to educate Texans about the critical shortage of donors and the lifesaving benefits of transplantation; the society works together with the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance, the Southwest Transplant Alliance, and the LifeGift organ procurement center, as well as with state agencies, to increase public awareness concerning organ donation; and WHEREAS, The Department of Public Safety, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the Department of State Health Services enable Texans to register their intent to be an organ, eye, or tissue donor, and the Glenda Dawson Donate Life Texas Registry, the state organ donor registry named in honor of former representative Dawson, now includes 1.4 million names; and WHEREAS, Those involved in promoting and facilitating organ donations are contributing immeasurably to the lives of organ recipients and their loved ones, and the Texas Transplantation Society and the other individuals, organizations, and agencies involved in this worthy endeavor are to be commended for their tireless commitment and their impressive record of achievements; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas hereby recognize March 1, 2011, as Donate Life Texas Day at the State Capitol and honor the many Texans who have chosen to become organ donors and all those who work in behalf of organ donation; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the Texas Transplantation Society as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.