2026 -- H 8413

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LC004532

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING APRIL OF 2026, AS "ORGAN DONATION MONTH" IN THE STATE OF

RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Potter, Giraldo,
Kennedy, Tanzi, Fogarty, Phillips, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: April 07, 2026

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Each and every day, new people join the national organ transplant waiting

list. Sadly, many of them will die because not enough organs are available for transplant, and

thousands of others whose lives would greatly benefit from the gift of an organ, eye, or tissue

donation continue to wait and hope; and

     WHEREAS, There are more than 100,000 Americans, with approximately 5,000 in New

England, who are currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant and due to critical shortages,

an average of 13 to 17 people die each day waiting; and

     WHEREAS, Organ donation is oftentimes the only hope at a new life for people with

end-stage organ failure. There are over one million life-enhancing tissue transplants each year

that are made possible by the generous donation of corneas, bone, skin or other tissue; and

     WHEREAS, Organ and tissue donation can help to save someone's life and benefits up to

50 recipients by simply signing up and enrolling in the Rhode Island Donor Registry when

applying for, or renewing a driver's license, or by registering on-line at www.RegisterMe.org; and

     WHEREAS, In Rhode Island, 99 percent of all people who register to become a donor do

so at the Division of Motor Vehicles, and it is fitting that Rhode Island joins in the national goal

of signing up 50 percent of the State's driving population to become donors, and is dedicated to

making it faster and easier to sign up to save a life through the Division of Motor Vehicles; and

     WHEREAS, Organ Donation Month pays tribute to organ and tissue donors and their

families whose decision to Donate Life enables others to receive life-saving organs and tissues for

transplant; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

celebrates April of 2026, as "Organ Donation Month" and urges all the citizens of Rhode Island

to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance by getting the heart

symbol placed on their Driver's license, ID or REAL ID, and register as an organ donor; and be it

further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Mr. Walter Craddock, Administrator, RI

Division of Motor Vehicles, and Alexandra K. Glazier Esq., President and Chief Executive

Officer, New England Donor Services.

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