Black History Month

Floor Speech

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Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, last month, the American Red Cross began sounding the alarm on a national blood crisis, the first they have ever declared. COVID-19 has added extra volatility to the blood supply, and this shortage strains hospitals and patient care throughout America.

We continue to face that critical blood supply shortage today, with Kansas's blood supply standing at a 1- to 2-day inventory.

I have heard from medical professionals--doctors, nurses, others in Kansas about the tough decisions rural doctors and healthcare providers are having to make, including canceling surgeries, blood transfusions, and possibly not delivering babies because bleeding complications may require blood that these facilities just don't have.

My hometown of Plainville, KS, has a population of about 2,000. We are fortunate to have a county hospital with dedicated healthcare professionals and physicians. One of my hometown physicians, Dr. Sanchez, who I am told is not on Facebook very often but posted his plea--his plea for people to donate blood.

Dr. Sanchez's Facebook post says--this is his story: Today we had to tell a patient with heart disease that the blood transfusions that had prolonged his life with marked improvement in quality could no longer happen at Rooks County Health Center. My patient and his son were understandably upset. It just so happens that the same patient was told a few days previous that the melanoma cancer that he beat for 40 years back returned. And now no blood transfusion.

The doctor said that the hospital is considering canceling surgeries, possibly even not delivering babies. Our stock of common blood type A- positive and donor O-positive blood units are down over 30 percent, from six units to four units. Universal donor O-negative blood has been in short supply for months and maybe for years. Blood supplies are usually replenished at the American Red Cross every 3 weeks, but we have had no new units given or replaced.

That is one doctor, one hometown, one hospital--but it is people. It is people in Kansas. It is people in this country whom we know and care for, people we love, people in our families, and people we don't even know.

The most vulnerable patients among us rely on blood donations for transfusions to support essential treatments such as those of battling cancer or living with chronic diseases. There is no substitute. There is no alternative.

Our Nation can turn to the absence of blood donations. The only answer is for each of us stepping up to donate, helping to end this crisis and contribute to saving lives of those in our communities.

The shortage is severe, and it is affecting Kansas health providers and their ability to care for their patients. It will cost us lives.

Kansans pull together in times of need, and I encourage everyone in Kansas and across the country to donate. In the United States, every 2 seconds someone needs blood or platelets, and donating blood is one of the most tangible actions we can give to help save lives.

Donation centers provide specific guidance on blood donation process and safety measures taken within their centers. You can find a location that is accepting blood donations near you, and you can visit the American Red Cross website.

So this is a plea that we all consider donating blood to help save the lives of our friends, our neighbors, and our fellow Americans.

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