Senate Concurrent Resolution 571

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION DESIGNATING FEBRUARY 7, 2019, AS "DONATE LIFE DAY IN MISSISSIPPI" AND ENCOURAGE CITIZENS TO WEAR BLUE AND GREEN TO PROMOTE THE SUCCESS OF ORGAN, EYE AND TISSUE TRANSPLANTATION.

WHEREAS, one of the most meaningful gifts that a human being can bestow upon another is the gift of life; and

WHEREAS, Donate Life Mississippi works to educate Mississippians on the importance of organ and tissue donation; and

WHEREAS, there are over 1,300 Mississippians and over 115,000 people nationwide currently on the transplant waiting list; and

WHEREAS, twenty people in the United States die every 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; and

WHEREAS, only 30% of Mississippians with a driver's license or state ID are registered as organ and tissue donors; and

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

WHEREAS, Donate Life Mississippi is a union formed by the Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency, Mid-South Transplant Foundation, and the Mississippi Lions Eye Bank to promote the need for organ, eye and tissue donation. This union 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 SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby designate February 7, 2019, as "Donate Life Day in Mississippi" and encourage citizens to wear blue and green to promote the success of organ, eye and tissue transplantation.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Donate Life Mississippi, forwarded to the State Board of Health for dissemination to the public, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.