Oh boy, is this painful! It may be the slowest sausage ever made.
The Living Donor Protection Act, which would simply protect discrimination against living organ donors by insurance companies and in employment, has been introduced in every session of Congress since 2014. It’s bipartisan, noncontroversial, and doesn’t cost taxpayers anything. It’s been on our list of “asks” in virtually all of my Capitol Hill advocacy meetings since 2020.
We finally have a critical breakthrough, but we need everyone’s help.
After getting oh-so-close to a committee hearing in the last session of Congress, the LDPA had to be reintroduced in this session (S. 1552) and then wait for a committee hearing. It’s now scheduled for “markup” with the Health, Education Labor and Pensions Committee Executive Session for Thursday, February 26th.
A “markup” mans that the committee will officially consider, possibly amend–basically hash out the details (we all know that’s where the devil lies)–and vote whether to move it on to the full Senate for a vote.
If your senator is among the following committee members, please contact him or her today and urge them to advance this important legislation during the executive session.
Republicans: Bill Cassidy (Chair), Rand Paul, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Markwayne Mullin, Roger Marshall, Tommy Tuberville, Tim Scott, Josh Hawley, Jim Banks, Mike Crapo, Marsha Blackburn.
Democrats: Bernie Sanders (Ranking Member), Patty Murray, Tammy Baldwin, Chris Murphy, Tim Kaine, Maggie Hassan, John Hickenlooper, Edward Markey, Andy Kim, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Angela Alsobrooks.
Here’s a sample email that you can revise as needed.
Dear [Senator’s name],
As your constituent and a living organ donor [or a family member/friend of a donor or of a potential recipient], I urge you to support the Living Donor Protection Act, S.1552, during the HELP Committee’s February 26 Executive Session. This critical legislation safeguards the rights of living donors by ensuring they are not discriminated against in terms of life, disability, and long-term care insurance. It also clarifies that FMLA rights apply to living donations.
Living donors save lives and reduce healthcare costs. However, without federal protections, donors face insurance and job security challenges after donation. This bill offers the protections current donors need, and it removes potential barriers for future donors.
Please take action now to pass the Living Donor Protection Act.
Thank you!
Sincerely,[Your name]
For related posts and information on my book, The Insider’s Guide to Living Kidney Donation, be sure to explore the rest of my website and my articles at Medium.com/@caroloffen.
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