118 STAT. 4118 PROCLAMATION 7770—APR. 9, 2004 While medical advances are enabling Americans to receive lifesaving transplants, there are not enough donors to help everyone in need. Last year, close to 6,000 Americans died while waiting for organ trans- plants. Currently, more than 84,000 of our citizens are on the waiting list for a donation, and approximately 30,000 people will be diagnosed with diseases that a bone marrow transplant could cure. My Administration is committed to increasing organ and tissue dona- tion. I have included nearly $25 million in my 2005 budget proposal for organ procurement and transplantation efforts at the Department of Health and Human Services and nearly $23 million to support a bone marrow donor registry. In addition, we continue to increase donations through the ‘‘Gift of Life Donation Initiative.’’; This campaign encour- ages businesses and organizations to make information on donation available to their employees, volunteers, and members, provides donor cards for individuals to carry with them, promotes the development of donor registries, and encourages States to educate teenagers on dona- tion through their drivers’ education classes. To make organ donation more viable, I recently signed into law the Organ Donation and Recov- ery Improvement Act. The Act authorizes the awarding of grants for travel reimbursement to potential donors and helps to increase public awareness and education about organ donation programs. After a person decides to be a donor, one of the most important things he or she needs to do is talk with family members about this decision. Many opportunities are missed each year because families do not know what their loved ones wanted. During National Donate Life Month, we honor our Nation’s organ and tissue donors and their families. Their decision to share the gift of life through America’s donor programs serves as a positive example for all our citizens. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Con- stitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2004 as National Donate Life Month. I call upon our citizens to sign an organ and tissue donor card and to be screened for bone marrow dona- tion. I also urge health care professionals, volunteers, educators, gov- ernment agencies, and private organizations to help raise awareness of the important need for organ and tissue donors in communities throughout our Nation. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the Inde- pendence of the United States of America the two hundred and twen- ty-eighth. GEORGE W. BUSH Proclamation 7770 of April 9, 2004 National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, 2004 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Americans look to our veterans as examples of honor and patriotism. These loyal citizens have risked capture, imprisonment, and their lives VerDate 11-MAY-2000 15:04 Nov 10, 2005 Jkt 029194 PO 00000 Frm 00084 Fmt 8087 Sfmt 8087 C:\STATUTES\2004\29194PT4.004 APPS10 PsN: 29194PT4
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