Organ Transplant Bill Becomes Law
Press Release
U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Vice Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, today applauded the White House for signing the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Organ Transplant Authorization Act of 2008 into law. President George W. Bush signed H.R. 6469, which increases authorization for the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) to $7 million, the first increase to the OPTN since 1984. The bipartisan legislation was sponsored by U.S Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), and U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Jim Costa (D-CA) and Dave Camp (R-MI).
"I am proud to have championed this invaluable and life-saving piece of legislation that gives hope to thousands of patients," DeGette said. "Not only am I happy this measure will provide a modest increase in funding for the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, but I am thrilled that we could honor the late Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones by naming it after her. The generous donation of her organs and tissues upon her untimely passing will be remembered."
The National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) of 1984 authorized the creation and operation of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), which facilitates the matching of deceased donor organs with individuals waiting for an organ transplant. Currently, NOTA limits federal support for the OPTN to no more than $2 million annually. This is approximately 8 percent of the current cost of operation of the OPTN. The remaining 92 percent of operating costs are paid with revenues generated by feeds the OPTN assesses transplant programs to register patients on the national donor waiting list.
The authorization for funding has not been increased since the enactment of NOTA in 1984, when the total operating costs for the OPTN were approximately $5 million. Right now, the projected cost of operating the OPTN in FY 2008 is approximately $27 million. The legislation is named after the late Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones who donated her organs and tissues upon her death on August 20, 2008.
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