House Concurrent Resolution 67

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION DESIGNATING APRIL 2018 AS "DONATE LIFE MONTH" IN MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, one of the most meaningful gifts that a human being can bestow upon another is the gift of life, and the "Donate Life Mississippi" campaign works to educate Mississippians on the importance of organ donation; and

WHEREAS, there are over 1,300 Mississippians, and over 115,000 people nationwide, who are currently on the transplant waiting list, with 20 people in the United States dying each day because a life-saving organ does not become available; and

WHEREAS, one individual's organ donation has the potential to save the lives of eight people, while tissue donation can heal the lives of more than 50 people, but only 30% of Mississippians with a driver's license or state ID are registered as organ and tissue donors; and

WHEREAS, the official online organ and tissue donation registry for "Donate Life Mississippi" is located at www.donatelifems.org, and this is where Mississippians can access information on organ and tissue donation and also share their donation wishes by registering to become organ and tissue donors; and

WHEREAS, "Donate Life Mississippi," a union formed by Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency, Mid-South Transplant Foundation and the Mississippi Lions Eye Bank to promote the need for organs, eyes and tissue donations, works in partnership with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety to increase the number of designated donors by providing Mississippians easy and secure access to document their decisions to be organ and tissue donors:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby designate April 2018 as "Donate Life Month" in Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency, the Mid-South Transplant Foundation, the Mississippi Lions Eye Bank, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.