HOUSE RESOLUTION CELEBRATING APRIL OF 2026, AS "ORGAN DONATION MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

H8413

2026 -- H 8413
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CELEBRATING APRIL OF 2026, AS "ORGAN DONATION MONTH" IN THE STATE OF
RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By:
Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Potter, Giraldo,
Kennedy, Tanzi, Fogarty, Phillips, and Ajello

Date Introduced:
April 07, 2026

Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, Each and every day, new people join the national organ transplant waiting
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list. Sadly, many of them will die because not enough organs are available for transplant, and
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thousands of others whose lives would greatly benefit from the gift of an organ, eye, or tissue
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donation continue to wait and hope; and
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WHEREAS, There are more than 100,000 Americans, with approximately 5,000 in New
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England, who are currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant and due to critical shortages,
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an average of 13 to 17 people die each day waiting; and
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WHEREAS, Organ donation is oftentimes the only hope at a new life for people with
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end-stage organ failure. There are over one million life-enhancing tissue transplants each year
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that are made possible by the generous donation of corneas, bone, skin or other tissue; and
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WHEREAS, Organ and tissue donation can help to save someone's life and benefits up to
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50 recipients by simply signing up and enrolling in the Rhode Island Donor Registry when
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applying for, or renewing a driver's license, or by registering on-line at www.RegisterMe.org; and
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WHEREAS, In Rhode Island, 99 percent of all people who register to become a donor do
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so at the Division of Motor Vehicles, and it is fitting that Rhode Island joins in the national goal
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of signing up 50 percent of the State's driving population to become donors, and is dedicated to
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making it faster and easier to sign up to save a life through the Division of Motor Vehicles; and
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WHEREAS, Organ Donation Month pays tribute to organ and tissue donors and their
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families whose decision to Donate Life enables others to receive life-saving organs and tissues for

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transplant; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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celebrates April of 2026, as "Organ Donation Month" and urges all the citizens of Rhode Island
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to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance by getting the heart
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symbol placed on their Driver's license, ID or REAL ID, and register as an organ donor; and be it
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further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Mr. Walter Craddock, Administrator, RI
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Division of Motor Vehicles, and Alexandra K. Glazier Esq., President and Chief Executive
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Officer, New England Donor Services.
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