Title: Introductory Remarks for the African American Bone Marrow Awareness Month Act
Date: 06/11/2009
Location: Washington, DC
Speech
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN BONE MARROW AWARENESS MONTH ACT -- (Extensions of Remarks - June 11, 2009)
* Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. Madam Speaker, as I rise today in support of the African American Bone Marrow Awareness Month Act, I am reminded of two things--the thousands of lives that bone marrow donations save each year, and the distance we have to travel to increase the participation of minorities, especially African Americans, in the National Marrow Donor Program. The African American Bone Marrow Awareness Month Act, by urging all Americans to initiate, organize and participate in programs to increase the collective consciousness of African Americans to become bone marrow donors.
* Since the inception of the National Marrow Donor Program registry, over 24,000 people have received bone marrow transplants. African Americans make up only eight percent, or 450,000 of the more than six million people currently registered in the National Marrow Donor Program. Worse, African Americans have received a little more than four percent--one out of every 24--of these transplants. While it is possible for an African American patient to get a match for a bone marrow donor from any racial or ethnic group, the most likely match for a transplant is from another African American. All it takes is a single drop of blood to help determine a match.
* Madam Speaker, this legislation will encourage all people, but particularly African Americans, to organize a bone marrow registration drive in their community. The collective work under this legislation will promote donor awareness and increase the number of African Americans registered with the National Marrow Donor Program throughout our nation. I urge all Members of Congress to begin the need for awareness, importance and value of bone marrow awareness, and urge its quick adoption by Congress.
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