IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 716 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 

establishment of a National Blood Reserve, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 9, 2006 

Mr. CANNON (for himself and Mr. DUNCAN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the establishment of a National Blood Reserve, and 

for other purposes. 

Whereas the supply of blood and blood products of the 

United States is a matter of national security and of national public health importance; 

Whereas there is no guarantee that existing blood supplies 

can meet the needs of victims of domestic disasters or 

acts of terrorism; 

Whereas blood has a short shelf life of only 42 days and must 

be replenished on a regular basis and must be consistently available to meet the next emergency; 

Whereas blood and blood products have been identified by the 

Department of Health and Human Services as a critical 


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national resource and are vital public health assets that 

must be readily available at all times, especially in the 

event of a domestic disaster or acts of terrorism; 

Whereas the American Association of Blood Banks Interorganizational Task Force on Domestic Disasters and 

Acts of Terrorism was formed to assist the Department 

of Health and Human Services in coordinating a national 

response to both military and civilian blood supply related 

issues that may arise during domestic disasters and acts 

of terrorism; 

Whereas at the request of the Department of Health and 

Human Services, a subgroup of the Interorganizational 

Task Force, comprised of representatives of the America’s Blood Centers, American Association of Blood 

Banks, American Red Cross, Armed Services Blood Program, and Blood Centers of America developed a proposal for a National Blood Reserve; 

Whereas in January 2004, the Department of Health and 

Human Services Advisory Committee on Blood Safety 

and Availability strongly endorsed the Task Force proposal for a National Blood Reserve and, in January 

2006, recommended that the Secretary of Health and 

Human Services take immediate steps to formally recognize that maintaining the blood and plasma supply of the 

United States during an influenza pandemic is a critical 

part of a national plan to prepare for such an influenza 

pandemic, and further, that the central role of developing 

and implementing a national strategy to address potentially massive blood and blood product shortages would be 

the creation of a National Blood Reserve; 


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Whereas in July 2004, the Department of Homeland Security 

also endorsed and supported the establishment of a National Blood Reserve; and 

Whereas the Give Life Foundation, one of the Nation’s leading blood advocacy groups, has taken steps through a national public/private awareness campaign to coordinate 

the efforts for the recruitment of regular blood donors in 

order to maintain a reliable and constant supply of blood 

and blood products for the National Blood Reserve and 

for local use: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) acknowledges that blood and blood products 

3 are of critical importance to the Nation’s health, 

4 well-being, and national security; 

5 (2) acknowledges the need for a continuous re6 plenishment of the Nation’s blood supply and of 

7 blood products through a National Blood Reserve; 

8 (3) endorses the United States’ participation in 

9 blood safety and awareness as part of the World 

10 Health Organization’s World Blood Donor Day cam11 paign; 

12 (4) endorses the establishment of a National 

13 Blood Reserve in order to meet the needs of our Na14 tion’s emergency situations, domestic disasters, and 

15 terrorists attacks; and 

16 (5) recognizes the Give Life Foundation in its 

17 pursuit to form public/private partnerships for the 


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1 coordination of blood donor recruitment programs in 

2 order to supplement the National Blood Reserve. 

Æ 


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