Honor Our Living Donors Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6020, the Honor Our Living Donors Act, sponsored by Representatives Obernolte and DelBene.

Living donor donation is an important option for the more than 100,000 Americans on the national transplant waiting list. However, many people who would like to donate an organ have trouble paying for their related expenses. The National Living Donor Assistance Center reduces these barriers by providing reimbursement for travel, lost wages, and dependent care expenses to people pursuing living organ donation.

Currently, there are strict income restrictions on who can be reimbursed for being a living donor, including restrictions based on the income of the recipient. This bill would no longer limit donor eligibility based on the income of the recipient, allowing more donors to qualify for necessary assistance when donating organs.

This bipartisan legislation is an important step toward making living donation easier for those who choose to pursue it. It would also benefit the thousands of individuals anxiously awaiting an organ transplant.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in this effort to strengthen and expand the National Living Donor Assistance Center program. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R.

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Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Obernolte for his very thoughtful legislation, along with Representative DelBene. I urge a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 6020, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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