Senators Gleason, Clark-Coleman, Barcia, Hunter, Anderson, Prusi, Thomas, Cherry, Scott, Jacobs, Clarke, Brater, Switalski, Schauer, Whitmer, Olshove, Birkholz, Basham, Cropsey, Van Woerkom, Patterson, Hardiman, George, Jansen, Kahn, Pappageorge, Sanborn, McManus, Gilbert, Allen and Bishop offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 35.

            A resolution recognizing April 2007 as Donate Life Month in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, More than 3,200 Michigan residents are currently waiting for a lifesaving organ donation, and 15 residents will die each month due to the serious lack of organ donors; and

            Whereas, The need for organ, tissue, and eye donations grows daily, and the critical donor shortage remains a public health emergency; and

            Whereas, Over 2,600 Michigan residents are waiting for a kidney and/or pancreas transplant, and end-stage renal disease is a major public health burden, which costs the national health system more than $15 billion per year; and

            Whereas, Almost 400 Michigan residents are waiting for a liver transplant, and chronic liver disease costs the national health system at least $3.5 billion per year; and

            Whereas, Nearly 120 Michigan residents are waiting for a heart or lung transplant and chronic pulmonary disease, and heart diseases accrue direct costs of over $120 billion per year; and

            Whereas, Transplantation of organs is medically proven to provide a better quality of life for patients suffering from chronic diseases, and transplantation of tissues enhances the lives of more than one million Americans annually; and

            Whereas, Organ, tissue, and eye donation can provide families that are tragically confronted by the death of a loved one the comfort of knowing the gift of donated organs and tissues endows another person with renewed hope for a healthy life; and

            Whereas, Giving the gift of life through organ, tissue, and eye donation to someone facing imminent death or living with blindness or a disability is the ultimate act of generosity and kindness; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body recognize April 2007 as Donate Life Month in the state of Michigan. With this recognition, we encourage residents to sign up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry and obtain a heart sticker for their driver's license and also talk with their families to engage in discussions about their wish to be a hero for the more than 3,000 residents waiting for a transplant in our great state; and be it further

            Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to Gift of Life Michigan as a token of our esteem.