President Bush recently signed into law the Stephanie Tubbs-Jones Congressional Gift of Life Medal Act (HR 7198). The bill was introduced by Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) and Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) and will create a commemorative medal for organ donors and their families, recognizing the brave act of organ donation. AAKP was the only organization to send letters to all members of Congress supporting the creation of the medal.
 
The medal was named in honor of Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, who died on Aug. 20 of a brain aneurysm. Rep. Tubbs-Jones requested her organs and tissues be donated for transplantation. She was a strong advocate for organ donation and worked on the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health. Rep. Tubbs-Jones also worked to shed light on the need for kidney disease education and minority organ donation.
 
"Representative Tubbs-Jones dedicated her life to public service and the kidney community was especially dear to her heart," said AAKP President Roberta Wager, RN, MSN. "This medal is a symbol of the tremendous work she's done on behalf of millions of Americans who will benefit from organ donation."
 
Patients interested in receiving the StephanieTubbs-Jones Congressional Gift of Life Medal should contact their Congressional Representative and ask to be considered for the award. For more information about the importance of organ donation and transplantation, please visit the AAKP Web site.

This article originally appeared in the November 2008 issue of Kidney Transplant Today.