MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Martinsville Henry County Coalition for Health and Wellness, based in Martinsville, Virginia, a grant of $873,541. The funding supports operations of local health centers. In response to this grant notice, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Connect Health + Wellness provides health care services for local communities.

“This HHS grant for more than $870,000 helps this community health care center promote health care access for Martinsville City, Henry County and Patrick County communities.”

BACKGROUND

Connect Health + Wellness administers services at locations in Bassett, Ridgeway, Patrick Springs and Martinsville.

Connect Health + Wellness CEO Marcus Stone was Rep. Griffith’s guest at President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union Address.

The awarding office of this grant is the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Griffith serves as the Chairman of the Health Subcommittee. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

OVERLAND PARK, KS — Today, Representative Sharice Davids hosted a listening session with Kansans from across the Third District focused on the rising cost of living and the financial pressures families continue to face from higher prices on groceries, healthcare, housing, fuel, and utilities. Davids emphasized the need for practical, bipartisan solutions that lower costs for hardworking families instead of policies that reward billionaires and large corporations at everyone else’s expense.

“Kansans are working hard, doing everything right, and still getting hurt by rising costs,” said Davids. “Families should not be paying more at the grocery store, more at the gas pump, and more for healthcare while billionaires and massive corporations keep getting tax breaks and special treatment. I wanted to hear directly from Kansans about what they’re experiencing so we can keep pushing for practical, bipartisan solutions that actually lower costs for everyday folks.”

The discussion comes as many Kansas households continue reporting financial pressure due to rising inflation and reckless policy decisions in Washington that only favor billionaires. The average family is paying more than $2,500 extra this year due to tariffs and is expected to spend about $740 more on gas. In the past year, residential electricity prices have risen by 13 percent nationally, and families have paid more than $300 more for groceries.

Davids discussed her work to lower costs for Kansans, including efforts to cap insulin at $35 for seniors, lower prescription drug prices through Medicare negotiation, expand affordable housing supply, strengthen Kansas agriculture and local food systems, support year-round E15 fuel access to lower prices at the pump, and extend Affordable Care Act tax credits that help families afford health coverage. She also highlighted her opposition to reckless tariffs and extreme Medicaid cuts that are closing rural hospitals and increasing healthcare costs for Kansas families.

Each participant previously wrote to Davids’ office, expressing concerns about rising costs:

• Steven S., Olathe
  • “Continue to work in a bipartisan manner to address rising consumer prices and do something about the spiraling costs of healthcare. It’s the biggest failure that our democracy has created.”
• Robert B., Overland Park
  • His wife said, “Thank you for your amazing work in Washington and in Kansas. … I don’t understand what exactly the government can do to affect the prices of groceries and fuel. … My concern is for those who really do struggle to make ends meet — between rising healthcare costs and all the other things folks have to spend money on. And my concern is for a long view for the next generation of leaders in Washington.”
• Kay E., Shawnee
  • “Rising costs are a major concern. Prices continue to go up and probably will never go down. There is so much political fighting that the common person can hardly afford to live anymore.”
• Erika K., Gardner
  • “I am a federal employee. … My husband and I … purchased a home in Gardner because that’s where we could afford to purchase, and we’re glad we did. Driving 5 times per week, plus childcare, plus groceries — and mind you, groceries and fuel have increased from this Republican administration’s tariffs and wars — our capacity to save has become more limited. I’m worried how far this can go.”

Davids was raised by a single mom and knows what it’s like to struggle to put food on the table, stretch every dollar, and make difficult choices between paying for groceries, healthcare, gas, or rent. That experience continues to shape her focus on lowering costs for working families and making sure everyday people — not just billionaires and large corporations — have a fair shot at getting ahead.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO-02)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement after she introduced the bipartisan Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Act with Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (D-PA):

“One of the major ways to eliminate the power of the criminal networks that traffic victims worldwide is to disrupt the horrific demand fueling the international sex trade.  This is a global issue, and it requires a global response,” Rep. Wagner said. “The United States is the most powerful nation in the world, and we must use that power to bring accountability against foreign countries that do not take the necessary steps to extinguish sex trafficking and protect victims who need our help.”

“To eradicate the inhumane network of sex trafficking, we need a coordinated global effort,” Rep. Dean said. “Our bipartisan bill encourages other countries to establish and enforce anti-trafficking measures by strengthening the State Department’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) reports that assess which foreign partners are making a serious effort to eliminate the demand for commercial sex. I’m thankful to Congresswoman Wagner’s leadership on this effort to protect the dignity and humanity of every person.”

“Sex trafficking is fueled by demand, and no effort to end this global human rights crisis can succeed without actively addressing demand. The Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Act recognizes that reducing the demand for commercial sex is one of the most critical and effective strategies for preventing exploitation, disrupting trafficking networks, and protecting vulnerable and marginalized individuals worldwide. By requiring the State Department’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report to evaluate whether countries are actively working to reduce demand, this legislation strengthens international accountability and advances a more comprehensive approach to eliminating sex trafficking.” – Helen Taylor, Vice President of Impact, Exodus Cry

“Demand is the engine that drives sex trafficking. The federal Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Act recognizes a simple truth: we will never end exploitation if we continue to ignore those fueling the market. This legislation takes an essential survivor-centered approach by strengthening accountability for sex buyers and affirming that those being exploited should not bear the burden of a system fueled by profit and abuse. We urge Congress to pass this critical legislation and send a clear message that exploiting vulnerable people for commercial sex will no longer be tolerated.” – Becca Zipkin, Policy Director, World Without Exploitation

“Consumer level demand creates the market forces that sustain pimps, traffickers, and the entire system of prostitution. Sex buyers oxygenate this ecosystem of exploitation by turning human beings into commodities for purchase. A range of multilateral legal obligations and political commitments geared towards discouraging the demand that fosters sex trafficking are in existence and mandate action from the United States. The Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Act is a vital step forward that holds sex buyers accountable, disrupts the profit propulsion of sex trafficking, and rejects the normalization of commercial sexual exploitation.” – Dr. Marcel van der Watt, President & CEO, National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE)

“Rights4Girls applauds Reps. Wagner, Dean and Foxx on the introduction of the Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Act — a critical step toward recognizing that sex trafficking cannot be addressed without confronting the demand that fuels it. By ensuring the State Department’s TIP Report evaluates whether countries are taking meaningful action to curb sex buying and reduce exploitation, this bill strengthens global accountability and advances a more effective, survivor-centered approach to preventing trafficking.” – Yasmin Vafa, Executive Director, Rights4Girls

“We applaud the leadership of Rep. Ann Wagner, Rep. Madeleine Dean, and Rep. Virginia Foxx on the Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Act. There is increasing recognition around the world, from governments to global survivor-led networks, that one of the most effective tools to combat sex trafficking and sexual exploitation is to end the demand for prostitution. Eliminating demand for the multi-billion dollar commercial sex market will dry up the immeasurable profits garnered from the pain and suffering traffickers extract from the most vulnerable among us. If we, as a nation, value human rights, this bill must pass.”  – Taina Bien-Aimé, Executive Director, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW)

Background
As stated in a 2017 Report on the demand driving sex trafficking, “there is not a market for women in prostitution and a separate one for sex trafficking victims.”  Another study found empirical evidence showing “countries where prostitution is legal experience larger reported human trafficking inflows.” The United States has the tools to address this problem worldwide. Mandated by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, the State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report) is the U.S. government’s foundational analysis of each foreign nations’ efforts to eliminate human trafficking. All foreign nations are measured against certain criteria defined in statute and given a ranking from Tier 1 (best) to Tier 3 (worst). Tier 3 countries may be subject to restrictions on U.S. foreign aid.

The Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Act would strengthen these criteria, changing the current requirement of making serious and sustained efforts to “reduce” demand for commercial sex, commonly known as prostitution, to whether or not a foreign nation has made serious and sustained efforts to:

1. Prohibit the purchase of commercial sex acts or implement a policy against the purchase of commercial sex acts.
2. Educate buyers of commercial sex on how traffickers exploit prostituted persons for human trafficking.
3. Reduce demand for participation in international sex tourism by nationals of that country.

Read the one-pager here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) announced that three students she nominated have been accepted to U.S. Service Academies. Wallace “Wynn” Pooler of South China will attend the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., while Isaiah Morgan of Cumberland Center and Cole Tomuschat of Scarborough will both attend the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

“Earning acceptance to a U.S. Service Academy is an extraordinary achievement and a testament to a student’s scholarship, leadership, character, and commitment to service,” said Pingree. “Wallace, Isaiah, and Cole have each demonstrated a deep sense of duty and a clear desire to serve their country. I’m incredibly proud to have nominated them and thrilled to see them accepted to the Merchant Marine Academy and Naval Academy. I know they will represent Maine well, and I wish them every success as they begin this next chapter.”

“I have long been interested in serving my country in some way and was raised in a service-oriented family, with family members having served for many generations. Both my great-grandfathers served during World War II. My grandfather served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, and my father served as a U.S. Merchant Marine Officer after graduating from Maine Maritime Academy,” Wallace wrote in his nomination request. “I now wish to continue this legacy by attending the Merchant Marine Academy.”

“Growing up with a father who has served for over 30 years, and an aunt and uncle who both attended West Point, I have learned how this community is unique. Part of my patriotic duty is to give back to my country, following in their footsteps,” Isaiah wrote in his nomination request. “I want to be part of a service academy because it offers a unique combination of leadership development, academic rigor, and a path to a lifelong commitment to serving my country.”

“Some of my earliest memories are listening to my dad and grandpa tell stories of their service. My dad is a 20-year merchant marine, and Grandpa is a retired Master Gunnery Sergeant in the Marine Corps. They would tell of travels around the world, hardships, and victories. Even as a small boy, I knew I wanted to be like the men in my life; I wanted to serve my country and become a leader,” Cole wrote in his nomination request. “The U.S. Service Academies are the best places in the world to sharpen my intellect, leadership skills, and sense of morality to reach my goals.”

To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, applicants must be nominated by an authorized nominating source, which includes Members of Congress.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Michael Guest (R-Miss) introduced a resolution in honor of Memorial Day. The resolution expresses that the House of Representatives “calls on the people of the United States to observe Memorial Day as a special day of remembrance to honor the men and women of the United States who died in the pursuit of freedom and peace.”

“We can never repay the debt we owe the men and women who gave their lives for our great nation, but we can remain committed to the values they fought and died for – values such as hard-work, determination, and truth. We must always remember that we are blessed to be citizens of this great republic, to live in a nation that was divinely inspired, and to call this land our home.”

Memorial Day has origin roots in Mississippi and other places across the United States. In 1866, four women took flowers to Friendship Cemetery in Columbus, Mississippi. They decorated the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers who had fallen in the Battle of Shiloh. This small act grew into an entire day dedicated to memorializing those who have died in the fight for freedom from the American War for Independence to the modern-day War on Terrorism.

On May 5, 1868, the Grand Army of the Republic, led by Major General John A. Logan, issued General Orders No. 11 or the “Memorial Day Act.” This Act formally established Memorial Day and called on the nation to place flowers on the graves of those who had given the ultimate sacrifice. Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day has been a part of the American tradition since the end of the Civil War.

Congressman Guest expresses his gratitude for all the men and women who have given their lives that our nation might endure. He points to President Ronald Reagan’s words: “Today is the day we put aside to remember fallen heroes and to pray that no heroes will ever have to die for us again. It’s a day of thanks for the valor of others, a day to remember the splendor of America and those of her children who rest [in cemeteries across our nation].”

The bipartisan resolution was cosponsored by over 40 Members of Congress at the time of introduction:

Barrett (MI-07), Babin (TX-36), Bilirakis (FL-09), Bice (OK-05), Bost (IL-12), Calvert (CA-41), Carter (GA-01), Carter (LA-02), Carter (TX-31), Ciscomani (AZ-06), Davis (NC-01), Dingell (MI-12), Donalds (FL-19), Escobar (TX-16), Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Garbarino (NY-02), Gottheimer (NJ-05), Harrigan (NC-10), Hunt (TX-38), Jackson (TX-13), Joyce (OH-14), Kim (CA-40), Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), LaLota (NY-01), Lawler (NY-17), Lee (NV-03), Mann (KS-01), Mast (FL-21), McCaul (TX-10), McGuire (VA-05), Messmer (IN-08), Mills (FL-07), Moolenaar (MI-02), Moore (AL-01), Moore (NC-14), Moylan (GU-AL), Pfluger (TX-11), Riley (NY-19), Rulli (OH-06), Scott (GA-08), Sessions (TX-17), Simpson (ID-02), Sorensen (IL-17), Strickland (WA-10), Thompson (PA-15), Turner (OH-10), Wagner (MO-02), Walberg (MI-05)

Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi’s Third Congressional District. Currently serving his fourth term, Congressman Guest is the Chairman of the Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee of the Committee on Homeland Security and is also a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, was the third member to sign a discharge petition for the Major Richard Star Act. This legislation currently has 330 cosponsors and would end the “wounded veteran tax”, or the offset that keeps medically retired veterans from receiving their full Department of Defense retirement pay and their full Veterans Affairs disability pay. The discharge petition was filed by House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) and Congressman Raul Ruiz (CA-25).

“The bipartisan Major Richard Star Act corrects a gross injustice for thousands of combat-injured veterans who are seeing their benefits drastically reduced,” said Congressman Pappas. “The bill has more than 300 bipartisan cosponsors but has not been brought to a vote on the floor. That can change if a majority of House members sign this discharge petition. We must use every tool possible to ensure our nation’s heroes receive the full benefits they earned.”

“For years, veterans have been expressing the urgent need to end the ‘wounded veteran tax’. We’ve heard them loud and clear. Their number one priority is our priority. We must pass the Major Richard Star Act,” said Ranking Member Takano. “Paying the full cost of war shouldn’t be partisan; it’s the right thing to do. It is time for us to act.”

“After serving and sacrificing for our nation, too many veterans face unnecessary roadblocks in receiving the benefits they need, have earned, and deserve. The Major Richard Star Act would repeal the unjust law that stands in the way of veterans receiving the military retirement pay and service-connected disability compensation that they have rightfully earned. These are not two sides of the same coin, they are two separate promises our country made to its warriors, and it is long past time we correct this. That is why we are filing this discharge petition today: Congress must act,” said Congressman Ruiz.

The Major Richard Star Act is supported by Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and a number of other Veterans Service Organizations.

Pappas has been a cosponsor of the Major Richard Star Act every Congress since being elected in 2019.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Allen (R-GA-12)

Today, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) announced members of his staff will host Community Office Hours across Georgia’s 12th District during the month of June.

During these events, members of Congressman Allen’s staff will be available to assist constituents with a variety of federal issues, including help navigating various federal agencies such as FEMA, Social Security, Veterans Affairs, Medicare, and others. Community Office Hours are a quarterly resource provided by Congressman Allen’s staff designed to serve constituents closer to home. Congressman Allen himself will not be in attendance.

After the announcement, Congressman Allen issued the following statement:

“I invite anyone seeking help with a federal issue to take advantage of the one-on-one services my office provides. If you need assistance dealing with a federal agency, our dedicated caseworkers stand ready to help you. Please visit my team during Community Office Hours in June or contact one of our district offices for more information.”

See below for a list of Community Office Hours dates, times, and locations by county (excluding counties in which Congressman Allen has a permanent office):

Burke County

WHEN: Tuesday, June 9th from 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

WHERE: County Commission Boardroom, Burke County Courthouse

111 E. 6th Street

Waynesboro, GA 30830

Candler County

WHEN: Tuesday, June 9th from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

WHERE: Metter City Hall

49 S. Rountree Street

Metter, GA 30439

Columbia County

WHEN: Wednesday, June 10th from 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

WHERE: Grovetown City Hall

103 Old Wrightsboro Road

Grovetown, GA 30813

Effingham County

WHEN: Thursday, June 18th from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

WHERE: Effingham County Board of Commissioners Office

804 S. Laurel Street, Suite 200

Springfield, GA 31329

Emanuel County

WHEN: Wednesday, June 10th from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

WHERE: Swainsboro-Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce

102 S. Main Street

Swainsboro, GA 30401

Evans County

WHEN: Tuesday, June 9th from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

WHERE: Strickland Center for the Arts

707 W. Main Street

Claxton, Georgia 30417

Glascock County

WHEN: Tuesday, June 9th from 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

WHERE: Family Connections & Communities in School

370 W. Main Street

Gibson, GA 30810

Jefferson County

WHEN: Tuesday, June 9th from 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

WHERE: Community Club House

101 McNair Street

Wrens, GA 30833

Jenkins County

WHEN: Wednesday, June 10th from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

WHERE: Jenkins County Chamber of Commerce

548 Cotton Avenue

Millen, GA 30442

Johnson County

WHEN: Monday, June 15th from 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

WHERE: Wrightsville City Hall

8647 S. Marcus Street

Wrightsville, GA 31096

Lincoln County

WHEN: Wednesday, June 10th from 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

WHERE: Lincoln County Courthouse

210 Humphrey Street

Lincolnton, GA 30817

McDuffie County

WHEN: Tuesday, June 16th from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

WHERE: Thomson-McDuffie Administrative Building

210 Railroad Street

Thomson, GA 30824

Montgomery County

WHEN: Monday, June 8th from 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM

WHERE: Montgomery County Courthouse

400 S. Railroad Avenue

Mount Vernon, GA 30445

Screven County

WHEN: Wednesday, June 17th from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

WHERE: Screven County Courthouse, Commission Boardroom

216 Mims Road

Sylvania, GA 30467

Tattnall County

WHEN: Monday, June 8th from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

WHERE: Glennville Welcome Center/Chamber of Commerce

136 S. Veterans Boulevard

Glennville, GA 30427

Treutlen County

WHEN: Monday, June 8th from 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

WHERE: Treutlen County Commissioners Office

1830 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive

Soperton, GA 30457

Warren County

WHEN: Tuesday, June 16th from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

WHERE: Warren County Chamber of Commerce

46 Norwood Street

Warrenton, GA 30828

Washington County

WHEN: Tuesday, June 16th from 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

WHERE: Community Health Care System

220 Morningside Drive

Sandersville, GA 31082

Wheeler County

WHEN: Monday, June 8th from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

WHERE: Alamo City Hall

7 W. Main Street

Alamo, GA 30411

Wilkes County

WHEN: Wednesday, June 10th from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

WHERE: Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce

22B West Square

Washington, GA 30673

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Dingell Statement on the Michigan Medicine and BCBS Contract Agreement

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) and Rich McCormick (R-GA-07) requested the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reconsider its policy on screening human tissue donors for sepsis. In a letter to Kyle A. Diamantas, Acting Commissioner of the FDA, Representatives Dingell and McCormick asked that the FDA consider adopting the approach of screening for systemic infection, rather than sepsis diagnosis, before finalizing the draft guidance document “Recommendations to Reduce the Risk of Transmission of Disease Agents Associated with Sepsis by Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products (HCT/Ps)” (“sepsis guidance”).

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and text is below:

Dear Acting Commissioner Diamantas:

We write today regarding the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) policy on screening human tissue donors for sepsis. We share the agency’s goal of reducing infectious disease transmission via contaminated human cells, tissues, and cellular or tissue-based products (HCT/Ps), as evidenced by the House of Representatives passage of H.R. 1082, the Shandra Eisenga Human Cell and Tissue Product Safety Act last year. As we continue to meet with experts and constituents in this field, we have heard that screening for systemic infection (meaning evidence of an active, disseminated infection with potential for communicable disease transmission), rather than a sepsis diagnosis, may be a more effective strategy for mitigating disease transmission. We therefore ask that the FDA consider adopting this approach prior to finalizing the draft guidance document “Recommendations to Reduce the Risk of Transmission of Disease Agents Associated with Sepsis by Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products (HCT/Ps)” (“sepsis guidance”). Assessment for systemic infection, rather than sepsis, aligns FDA’s goal of reducing communicable disease transmission by targeting actual infection risk.

When the FDA finalized its most recent guidance on donor eligibility (DE), in 2007, it was reasonable to classify sepsis as a relevant communicable disease agent or disease (RCDAD) as a surrogate measure for infection risk. However, given the evolution of “sepsis” in clinical practice since the 2007 DE guidance, a sepsis diagnosis is not a scientifically valid surrogate for communicable disease risk in tissue donation. As detailed below, reliance on sepsis as a surrogate may both unnecessarily exclude otherwise eligible donors and potentially fail to identify donors with true potential for disease transmission.

A primary concern is that multiple sepsis definitions remain in use, and experts continue to disagree on how the term should be applied in clinical practice as it relates to the presence of an infection. A sepsis diagnosis in a potential donor’s medical record may reflect an infection that warrants exclusion under donor eligibility criteria, or it may simply indicate a condition that requires additional clinical assessment. Some infections, even those that could contribute to a sepsis diagnosis (such as a urinary tract infection), are easy to treat and should not in and of themselves be disqualifying for potential tissue donors. Absent careful, case-specific evaluation, such an approach would seem to unnecessarily disqualify otherwise eligible donors. A study conducted by the American Association of Tissue Banks suggests categorical exclusion based on a prior sepsis diagnosis could result in an approximately 25 percent reduction in tissue donors, which will most likely have an adverse effect on the availability of tissue products for patients in need.

An additional concern is that sepsis does not seem to meet the three conditions provided by FDA to qualify as an RCDAD (i.e., risk of transmission, severity of effect, and availability of 

appropriate screening measures or tests). In particular, sepsis is not itself a transmissible disease and may not even be the result of an infectious disease. In cases where sepsis is the result of an infection, that infection may or may not pose a risk of transmission to a tissue recipient. In short, the designation of sepsis as an RCDAD conflates clinical severity with communicable disease risk and incentivizes formulaic decision-making that is not reflective of the true risk of disease transmission. By contrast, designating systemic infection as an RCDAD—rather than relying on the presence or absence of a sepsis diagnosis—could more consistently identify potential donors who present a meaningful risk of infectious disease transmission, particularly those with objective evidence of systemic infection but that were not septic and had no mention of sepsis in their medical record.

We appreciate your continued commitment to ensuring the highest standards of safety and oversight for HCT/Ps and to minimizing the risk of infectious disease transmission. We stand ready to work with you on these issues, and we encourage you to consult with stakeholders and experts in this area as you consider an appropriate path forward.