Bill Text: WV SR37 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designating February 14, 2024, as National Organ Donor Day
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2024-02-14 - Completed legislative action [SR37 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2024-SR37-Introduced.html
SENATE RESOLUTION 37
(By Senator Takubo)
[Introduced February 13, 2024]
Designating February 14, 2024, as National Organ Donor Day at the Legislature.
Whereas, National Organ Donor Day is a day established to honor and remember those who save and heal lives as organ, tissue, and cornea donors. This day is also set aside to help raise awareness of the life-saving gifts provided to, and by, our loved ones; and
Whereas, The State of West Virginia recognizes Patrolman Cassie Johnson of Charleston, West Virginia. Charleston Police Department Patrolman Cassie Johnson was killed in the line of duty while on patrol on December 3, 2021. Because Cassie was a registered organ donor and selfless in nature, five people received a second chance at life. Cassie was a hero in life and in death; and
Whereas, The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) is the Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) serving most of West Virginia; and
Whereas, CORE marked a fifth consecutive record-breaking year in 2023, in organ, tissue, and cornea donations; and
Whereas, In West Virginia, there was a 40 percent increase in non-directed donors, a 20 percent increase in designated donors and a 30 percent increase in total organs transplanted; and
Whereas, More than 100,000 individuals in the United States, including 500 West Virginians, are currently awaiting a life-saving organ transplant; and
Whereas, A living person can also be an organ donor by donating a kidney, or a part of their liver, or certain types of organs and tissue, with higher rates of acceptance by the patient, and the living donor's contributions make thousands of transplants possible every year. In 2023, more than 6,900 transplants were made possible by living donors; and
Whereas, Every 10 minutes a person is added to the national transplant registry waiting list. On average, 17 people in the United States die each day because the needed organ is not donated in time; and
Whereas, One organ donor can save the lives of eight people and heal 75 others; and
Whereas, West Virginia encourages all residents to register as an organ, tissue, and cornea donor, and can register online at registerme.org, their local West Virginia DMV offices, or on their West Virginia hunting and fishing license application; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate hereby designates February 14, 2024, as National Organ Donor Day at the Legislature; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the family of Patrolman Cassie Johnson.
