Senate approves Benton’s “Donate Life Month” resolution to encourage more people to become organ donors

April 15, 2009

OLYMPIA…The Senate today unanimously approved Senate Resolution 8662 offered by Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, promoting April as “Donate Life Month.”  

This resolution marks a continuing effort by Benton to keep the need for more organ donors before the public.  

“Since I became aware of the critical need for more organ donors, I have offered a resolution to remind my colleagues and the public how one organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people and enhance the lives of more than 50,” Benton said. “I also make it a point of sharing the sad truth that organ donation is not nearly common enough to meet the need.” 

While public support is very high – 90 percent for programs that provide donated organs, tissues and eyes – only about 41 percent of the people in the region are registered organ donors. 

“There is a big gap between those who support organ donations and those who sign up to be a donor,” Benton told his colleagues. 

Benton carries the heart symbol on his driver’s license to show he is an organ donor. He shared his personal commitment as an organ donor during his remarks on the resolution. 

“We need more people to get the heart on their licenses,” Benton added. “We need more people to understand the critical need for organ donors.  

“We know that awareness is important because more than 50 percent of the respondents to a survey hadn’t even discussed donating their organs or made sure their families knew their wishes. It is essential that all citizens are aware of the opportunity to save and enhance the lives of others through organ, eye or tissue donations.” 

During the 2007 and 2008 sessions, Benton sponsored similar resolutions to encourage more people to become organ donors.  

In 2007, he was joined in a news conference after the passage of his resolution by Vancouver resident Mike Sivley, a liver transplant recipient; Department of Health Secretary Mary Selecky, whose father’s corneas were donated to two different recipients; Shirley Harney-Taylor, a “donor mother”; and many transplant recipients and people waiting for transplants. 

People can join the organ donor registry online at www.livinglegacyregistry.org. They can also become an organ donor when they apply for or renew their Washington state driver’s license.

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Additional Contact: Penny Drost (360) 786-7522 or drost.penny@leg.wa.gov