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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Donald Norcross (1st District of New Jersey)

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (D-NJ) honored the pilots and flight attendants who saved his life: Captain Michael Tibaldo, First Officer James Kim, Flight Attendant Donnell Mitchell, and Flight Attendant Jaclyn Curry, all of whom are unionized workers who are members of Teamsters Local 357 and Teamsters Local 135. General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Sean O’Brien, and General Secretary-Treasurer at Teamsters, Fred Zuckerman, were also in attendance.

During the event, Congressman Donald Norcross presented the Republic Airways pilots and flight attendants with framed copies of Congressional Record statements detailing their heroic actions.

“I’m incredibly grateful to Captain Michael Tibaldo, First Officer James Kim, Flight Attendant Donnell Mitchell, and Flight Attendant Jaclyn Curry for saving my life,” said Congressman Donald Norcross. “Every minute matters in a medical emergency, and I’m lucky that the Republic Airlines crew was trained, equipped, and ready to respond when I was in my hour of need. It’s an honor to present the airline crew with an official Congressional Record of their heroic actions, and I once again thank them for their bravery.”

On April 6, 2025, Congressman Donald Norcross experienced a sudden medical emergency while traveling on Republic Flight 4711. The crew members and airline pilots reacted swiftly to provide the Congressman with immediate medical attention, divert the airplane, and transport him to the University of North Carolina (UNC) Rex Hospital. The Congressman was later diagnosed with sepsis.

Thanks to the pilots, flight attendants, doctors, and nurses at UNC Rex and Cooper University Hospital, Congressman Donald Norcross was able to make a full recovery from this medical emergency.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Reps. Diana DeGette (CO-01), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), and Jake Auchincloss (MA-04) introduced a Congressional resolution recognizing the importance of U.S. leadership in biomedical research and the federal government’s responsibility to protect and expand that leadership in the years to come.

The resolution highlights the historic role the United States has played in advancing medicine and science—from breakthroughs in cancer and HIV treatment to the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines—and lays out a clear roadmap for how the federal government must act to strengthen biomedical innovation, insulate science from political interference, and improve public health outcomes for all Americans.

“Under the Trump administration, American leadership in biomedical research—which has saved countless lives through groundbreaking cures—has been under assault,” said DeGette. “NIH has long been the gold standard in biomedical research, and from the cure for hepatitis C to cutting-edge gene therapies, we’ve seen what’s possible when our scientists are empowered to pursue bold ideas and answer urgent medical challenges. But that progress is at risk of catastrophe. If we want to remain the global leader in innovation, the Trump administration must end its anti-science agenda, focus on empowering scientists, and ensure scientific inquiry is protected from political meddling.”

“Our resolution puts America back in position to lead in the biomedical research field and to protect this critical work from political interference,” said Raskin. “For the health and wellbeing of our people, the Trump Administration must stop its brutal onslaught against science, research, public health and the federal workforce.”

“America has led the world in biomedical research and innovation because it funds curiosity-driven basic science, elevates peer review over politics, and protects intellectual property,” said Auchincloss. “Congress either renews these commitments — or hands over biomedical leadership to China.

“As a nation, we have led the world in biomedical advancement for decades. This did not happen by accident–it happened through the unified support of presidents, congress, and the American public. By creating a publicly funded ecosystem where our best and brightest could pursue answers to problems that have followed humanity since our beginning, we have saved millions of lives. We cannot separate the benefits of this ecosystem from our committed investment in it,” said Stand Up for Science Founder and Executive Director Collete Delawalla. 

“From working to find cures for rare diseases, cancers, and Alzheimer’s to conducting basic research that will form the basis of future biomedical breakthroughs, UAW members at the NIH and at academic research institutions across the country do lifesaving research every day,” said Rajiv Sicora, Legislative Director for the UAW. “But their work is under attack by the Trump administration’s attempts to gut the federal government’s role in scientific research, undermine scientific integrity and academic freedom, and decimate workers’ rights. We thank Congresswoman DeGette, Congressman Raskin, and Congressman Auchincloss for their clear-eyed attention to this crisis and their efforts to protect federal investments in biomedical research.” 

The resolution emphasizes the indispensable role of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the world’s largest public funder of biomedical research, and calls for a doubling of federal biomedical investment over the next decade. It also urges Congress to prioritize workforce development, scientific independence, and translational research that brings lab discoveries directly into patient care.

The resolution also warns of recent political interference in scientific processes, including during the Trump administration, which has undermined grantmaking, delayed clinical trials, and politicized agency leadership—threatening long-term public health and global competitiveness.  

The full resolution can be found here. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ted Lieu (33 District of California)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) announced the reintroduction of the Renewable Energy for U.S. Territories Act, along with Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands), Congressman James Moylan (R-Guam), and Congressman Pablo Hernández (D-Puerto Rico). The bill creates an energy grant program for U.S. territories to strengthen and invest in renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy storage, smart grids and micro grids, and training for local residents. These grants would be awarded to non-profit organizations and the Department of Energy’s National Laboratories would be directed to offer technical assistance.

“Extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and cost because of climate change,” said Congressman Lieu. “Climate change is here, and we need resilient infrastructure that can handle what is to come. Over the past decade, our U.S. territories have been devastated by some of the worst extreme weather events, exemplifying the consequences of critical infrastructure failure. I’m reintroducing this bipartisan bill with Congresswoman Plaskett, Congressman Moylan, and Congressman Hernández to strengthen our U.S. territories’ energy infrastructure and meet the urgency of the climate crisis.”

“I am proud to co-lead this essential legislation with my colleagues,” said Congresswoman Plaskett. “Virgin Islanders experience the dangers of maintaining an aging energy infrastructure during hurricane season as threats mount and compound with each passing year. Years of underfunding have left our energy systems vulnerable, making the transition to resilient renewable energy not just an opportunity, but a necessity. The Renewable Energy for U.S. Territories Act would provide crucial resources to build hardened, clean energy infrastructure that can withstand increasingly severe storms. For island territories like ours, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories and non-contiguous states, reliable renewable energy is not just about climate goals—it’s about economic survival and ensuring our communities have power when they need it most. Investing in this transition today protects our resources and resilience for future generations.”

“Typhoon Mawar was a wake-up call for Guam. It exposed just how vulnerable our energy systems are, and how high the stakes can be when they fail,” said Congressman Moylan. “We need solutions that can withstand the next storm. That means building smarter, more resilient systems that keep the lights on when we need them most and investing in our workforce, so our people have the tools and training to operate and sustain them locally. I’m grateful to Congressman Lieu for his leadership, and proud to co-lead this bipartisan legislation that puts Guam and every U.S. territory on a path to stronger, cleaner, and more secure energy infrastructure.”

“Puerto Rico has endured hurricanes, floods, and chronic blackouts that leave too many, especially in rural areas, in the dark,” said Congressman Hernández. “We need power infrastructure that is resilient, stable, and reliable for our homes, hospitals, schools, and businesses. This bill moves us beyond short-term fixes and toward lasting solutions that are clean and locally driven. I’m proud to co-lead this bipartisan effort to ensure that Puerto Rico has the infrastructure, training, and tools to build an energy system that truly serves our communities.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Derek Tran (CA-45) reintroduced legislation to provide continuous health care coverage for eligible children in Medicaid and CHIP. The Keep Kids Covered Act would expand the 12-month continuous eligibility (CE) protection for children, providing uninterrupted coverage for children until age 6 – a crucial time for their development – and for a 24-month period for children age 6 to 19.

Continuous eligibility requires states to cover children in CHIP and Medicaid for a defined period of time – without coverage lapse – regardless of changes in circumstances. Access to consistent, high-quality coverage is crucial for children’s development and well-being, particularly in their early years, enabling them to grow into healthy and productive adults. Not only does CE improve short- and long-term health coverage, it lowers costs and reduces churn and financial barriers to care. Too many children who are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP have lost coverage for procedural reasons, like missing paperwork. The Keep Kids Covered Act would ensure kids and families across the country have access to the lifesaving care they need and deserve. The bill would also ensure that former foster youth have CE until age 26, as the Affordable Care Act intended. 

Over 37 million children rely on Medicaid and CHIP across the country, but Congressional Republicans’ Big Ugly Budget Bill puts children’s health at risk. At President Trump’s urging, they are cutting $1 trillion in funding from Medicaid, CHIP and the Affordable Care Act and enacting policies that will strip coverage from millions of children in order to give tax breaks to the wealthy and well-connected. Last week, President Trump announced that states will no longer be able to provide enhanced CE for kids with Medicaid and CHIP coverage. And in Florida, Governor DeSantis continues to break the law by throwing children off the state’s CHIP program in violation of the federal 12-month CE protection. Legislation like the Keep Kids Covered Act would act as a bulwark against these harmful state policies.

“In Florida and across the country, children pay the price when politicians rip health coverage away and create bureaucratic barriers to care,” said Rep. Castor. “The Keep Kids Covered Act will ensure eligible kids across the country can access reliable, stable Medicaid and CHIP coverage so they can live happy, healthy lives. Research has shown that children with health coverage do better in school and grow into more successful adults, lowering costs for everyone. While Congressional Republicans and President Trump have spent the past few months making it more difficult and expensive for kids to access critical health coverage, Democrats are fighting to protect our kids and their future. I’m grateful to my colleagues Rep. Derek Tran and Senator Michael Bennet, as well as the child and family advocates, for their partnership and support of this critical legislation.”

“As a father of young kids, I know how critical adequate health care is for our children to grow and thrive. No child should be denied access to medical treatment because President Trump and Congressional Republicans wanted to give their billionaire friends a tax break,” said Rep. Tran. “I’m proud to join Rep. Castor in introducing the Keep Kids Covered Act to bring down costs for hard-working families and ensure high-quality access to health care so all of our kids can stay healthy.”

“In the face of Republicans’ biggest attack on health care access yet, I’m grateful to Rep. Castor for her persistence in protecting health care for our nation’s children,” said Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06). “As the Big Ugly Bill is set to take health care away from millions of Americans, Democrats will keep fighting to minimize coverage gaps, burdensome paperwork requirements, and price hikes for families. The Keep Kids Covered Act is a critical tool in this fight against Republican cuts and will ensure young children continue to have health care coverage.”

“Pediatricians know how vital it is that children have uninterrupted access to health care coverage that supports them as they grow and develop. As its name states, the Keep Kids Covered Act would help ensure children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP do not face gaps in coverage, providing families with certainty that their children can continue to receive the health care they need. The American Academy of Pediatrics thanks Representative Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) for introducing this important legislation and calls on lawmakers to swiftly advance it,” said Susan J. Kressly, MD, FAAP, American Academy of Pediatrics President.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to grow and thrive, and no child should miss out on essential health care because of a lapse in coverage,” said Margaret A. Murray, CEO of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP). “For more than 20 years, ACAP has advocated for continuous eligibility for all people covered by Medicaid. We’re pleased that Representative Castor’s reintroduction of the Keep Kids Covered Act advances this priority by ensuring continuous coverage for children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP.”

“First Focus Campaign for Children strongly supports the reintroduction of the Keep Kids Covered Act led by Representative Kathy Castor. The legislation makes an important investment in children by ensuring that they have continuous eligibility in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) during their earliest and most critical years of development. This guarantee of coverage provides a powerful antidote to the recently passed budget reconciliation package, which cuts Medicaid and CHIP by hundreds of billions of dollars, jeopardizing the health and well-being of over 37 million children. The Keep Kids Covered Act is a practical, common-sense approach that will provide kids in Medicaid and CHIP with consistent health care coverage, laying a foundation of care that will benefit them throughout their lives.” — Bruce Lesley, President, First Focus Campaign for Children.

“Rep. Kathy Castor is fighting to protect children’s health care in the wake of Donald Trump and Republicans’ health care emergency,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “Republicans’ actions are ripping coverage away from hard-working families and putting children at risk, but Democrats are working to ensure kids can stay covered and get the care they need to grow up healthy and strong. No child should lose care just because Republicans want to fund tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations.”

“Children’s hospitals witness the critical role Medicaid and CHIP play in providing essential care to more than half of the children they treat, particularly those with serious and complex medical needs. The Keep Kids Covered Act addresses the pressing issue of coverage gaps that can disrupt this vital care, ensuring that no child’s health suffers due to administrative hurdles. By providing continuous, multi-year coverage, this legislation offers much-needed stability and peace of mind to families facing challenging health circumstances. We commend Representatives Castor and Caraveo for their leadership in making sure all children have access to the consistent care they need to lead healthy, successful lives,” said Matthew Cook, President and CEO of the Children’s Hospital Association.

In addition to Reps. Castor and Tran, the Keep Kids Covered Act is cosponsored by Reps. Kim Schrier, Raul Ruiz, Marc Veasey, Nanette Barragán, Lizzie Fletcher, Greg Landsman, Jan Schakowsky, Jennifer McClellan, Darren Soto, Troy Carter, and Doris Matsui. 

Endorsing organizations include: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Nurses Association, American Psychiatric Association, Association for Community Affiliated Plans, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, BayCare Health System—St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, Child Welfare League of America, Children’s Defense Fund, Children’s Hospitals Association, Colorado Children’s Campaign, Families USA, First Focus Campaign for Children, Florida Health Justice Project, Florida Policy Institute, Florida Voices for Health, March of Dimes, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Foster Youth Institute, National League for Nursing, Nemour Children’s Health, Primary Development Corporation, Protect Our Care, The Center for Law and Social Policy, UnidosUS, ZERO TO THREE.  

The full bill text of the legislation can be viewed here.

A one-pager about the legislation is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD) today led a House delegation in reintroducing the Fair Representation Act, an election reform bill to address structural gerrymandering issues and extreme partisanship in federal elections. The bill would implement measures to elect U.S. House Representatives through ranked choice voting in multi-member districts drawn by independent redistricting commissions and would require ranked choice voting to elect U.S. Senators.  

“Hyperpartisan gerrymandering has suppressed meaningful electoral competition, which in turn has allowed extremist ideologies to hijack our political discourse and sown public distrust of our political system,” said Rep. Don Beyer. “Our Fair Representation Act would provide necessary solutions by implementing critical reforms to strengthen our electoral system, ensure every voter has their voice represented, and restore public trust. This is how we create a Congress made up of Members who prioritize pragmatic legislative results and solutions for the benefit of the American people.”

“Every day brings more bad news of gerrymandering, extreme gerrymandering and straight-up disenfranchisement,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin. “The Fair Representation Act is the opposite of all that: it brings democracy up to date in the 21^st century instead of turning the clock back to the white primaries, grandfather clauses, literacy tests and poll taxes of the 20^th century.”

“Nearly 9 in 10 Americans say elected officials don’t care what people like them think. We need ranked choice voting and proportional representation to make our government work for the American people,” said Meredith Sumpter, President and CEO of FairVote. “The Fair Representation Act gives voters more choice and more power. It would make our elections fairer and more competitive and offer a path away from gerrymandering and polarization. It would reward candidates and elected officials who build coalitions and work across the aisle to get things done for voters, rather than those who succeed by attacking and turning Americans against one another.”

Reps. Scott Peters (D-CA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), and Ro Khanna (D-CA) are co-sponsors of the Fair Representation Act.

The legislation is supported by organizations including FairVote Action, RepresentUs, RepresentWomen, Rank the Vote, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, National Council of Jewish Women, Bridge Alliance Education Fund, People Power United, Divided We Fall, 7th Generation Labs, DemCast USA, National Black Justice Coalition, More Equitable Democracy Action, Voices for Progress, United Church of Christ, Voter Choice Massachusetts, N.C. For The People Action, League of Women Voters Rogue Valley, Ocean State RCV, Vote Nevada, FairVote Minnesota, Ranked Choice Voting Maryland, Rank The Vote Ohio, Voter Choice Arizona, Better Ballot NC, NH Ranked Choice Voting, Better Ballot SC.

Full text of the Fair Representation Act is available here with a one-pager available here. Additional resources are available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green Ohio)

Watch Congressman Latta’s remarks from today’s committee markup here. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark Pocan (2nd District of Wisconsin)

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Sara Jacobs (CA-53) led a letter with 46 of their colleagues to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging him to distribute all remaining viable mpox vaccines from the United States that were promised to African countries currently experiencing outbreaks.

“Nearly 800,000 doses of the mpox vaccine that were originally pledged by the United States to African nations may go to waste,” the Members wrote. “Critically, an estimated 220,000 of these vaccines could still be viable if the State Department acts without delay to ship these vaccines immediately.”

“As you are aware, the current mpox outbreak in Africa has resulted in over 47,000 confirmed cases and nearly 1,900 suspected deaths, many among them children who are disproportionately impacted,” the Members continued. “While the United States has largely contained its mpox outbreak, the unchecked spread in African communities poses a serious and growing global health threat – including to our own nation.” 

“This is a moral, strategic, and public health failure in the making,” the Members concluded. “Your agency has an ever-shortening window of opportunity to act decisively and deliver lifesaving vaccines to people who need them. Letting these vaccines expire while sitting on shelves is indefensible, wasting taxpayer-funded doses, undermining the United States’ credibility abroad, and contradicting the entirety of your work while in the Senate.” 

A full copy of the letter can be found here. 

The list of signers includes: Mark Pocan (WI-02), Sara Jacobs (CA-53), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Ami Bera (CA-6), Don Beyer (VA-08), Sean Casten (IL-06), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Jim Costa (CA-21), Danny Davis (IL-07), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Dwight Evans (PA-3), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Al Green (TX-09), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NE-03), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Sarah McBride (DE-At Large), Jim McGovern (MA-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Jerry Nadler (NY-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Brad Sherman, (CA-32), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Mark Takano (CA-39), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Frederica Wilson (FL-24)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse To Host Telephone Town Hall

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) will host a telephone town hall session next week to hear from constituents of Washington’s Fourth District.  

WHEN: Monday, July 28, 5:30-7:00 PM PT.

Any constituents interested in joining the session should RSVP here by 12:00 PM PT this Sunday, July 27. 

Constituents will receive an automated phone call 10 minutes before the session begins with instructions on how to join and ask a question. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

Today, Representatives Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) and Don Bacon (NE-02) reintroduced the Living Donor Protection Act bill package to protect the rights of living organ donors. The Living Donor Protection Act is introduced as a two-bill package in the House, H.R. 4583, the Living Donor Protection Act and H.R.4582, the Living Donor FMLA Protection Act. The bills, taken together, are identical to last session’s Living Donor Protection Act and S.1552 introduced in the Senate this session.

“Every year, thousands of Americans die while waiting on an organ transplant, yet potential organ donors still face barriers that punish them for trying to selflessly save a life. Insurance discrimination and the threat of job loss can make it economically impossible for potential donors to move forward with donation and these roadblocks are costing lives,” said Representative Nadler. “Congress must do everything in its power to remove deterrents to organ donation, which is why Congress must pass the Living Donor Protection Act bill package.”

“Our state is fortunate to have Nebraska Medicine, which has a robust living donor kidney exchange program, performing more kidney chains which involves anonymous donors donating to someone without a compatible living donor, than almost any hospital nationwide. However, some living donors are discriminated against when it comes to rates and provision of life insurance and disability insurance,” said Representative Bacon. “This legislation will help open the doors to more living donors so we can save more lives.”

Organ donation saves thousands of lives every year, but burdensome roadblocks often stop individuals from becoming living donors. The Living Donor Protection Act bill package would protect living organ donors and promote organ donation in three easy, low-cost ways: 

1. Prohibits life, disability, and long-term care insurance companies from denying or limiting coverage and from charging higher premiums based only on donor status;
2. Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to specifically allow private and civil service employees to use FMLA leave to recover from donation surgery; and
3. Directs HHS to update their materials on live organ donation to reflect these new protections and encourage more individuals to consider donating an organ.

Currently, there are over 103,000 people on the national transplant waiting list, with almost 90,000 people on the kidney transplant list. The average wait time for a kidney transplant is about three to five years, and during that time, many patients become too sick to receive a transplant or die—13 people die each year waiting for an organ transplant. Receiving an organ from a living donor can shorten this wait time and ultimately allow the best chance for long-term success. Unfortunately, studies have found that up to one in four living donors report discrimination in the rates and provision of life insurance and disability insurance, and they can struggle to receive time off from work to complete their donation and recovery. Reducing barriers to living organ donation and educating potential donors on the protections provided to them under law will help to promote living organ donation and save the lives of those waiting for a transplant.

The Living Donor Protection Act is endorsed by Alport Syndrome Foundation, American Association of Kidney Patients, American Council of Life Insurers, American Heart Association, American Kidney Fund, American Liver Foundation, American Nephrology Nurses Association, American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, American Society of Transplant Surgeons, American Society of Transplantation, Dialysis Patient Citizens, Global Liver Institute, IGA Nephropathy Foundation, International Society of Glomerular Disease, Kidney Transplant Collaborative, National Kidney Foundation, NephCure, the Nonprofit Kidney Care Alliance (NKCA), North American Transplant Coordinators Organization, Northwest Kidney Centers, the PKD Foundation, the Rogosin Institute, Sanofi, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), Transplant Recipients International Organization (TRIO), and Renal Physicians Association.

“On behalf of all kidney patients, organ donors and American taxpayers, the American Association of Kidney Patients salutes U.S. Senators Tom Cotton and Kristen Gillibrand and U.S. Representatives Don Bacon and Jerrold Nadler for introducing the bipartisan Living Donor Protection Act so that living organ donors will no longer face the Hobbesian choice of saving an innocent human life at the risk of losing insurance coverages that provide economic security and peace of mind to their families and loved ones. The time is now for America to transcend high-cost, high-mortality dialysis care as the default solution for people living with kidney failure and to encourage greater living organ donation and greater transplant opportunities for all Americans in need of a life-saving organ,” said Edward V. Hickey, III, President, American Association of Kidney Patients.

“Life insurers are committed to helping people access the financial protection they want and need for themselves and their families. The Living Donor Protection Act will help ensure that organ donors can continue to access life, disability income, or long-term care coverage, while upholding fair underwriting standards. Most importantly, it will safeguard those who selflessly give the gift of life through organ donation,” said David Chavern, President and CEO, American Council of Life Insurers.

“The selfless individuals who give the gift of life by donating a kidney should not face discrimination by life, long-term care, or disability insurers. This legislation would be a significant step in efforts to encourage more living donors and reduce the kidney transplant waiting list by providing the protections that living donors should receive for their lifesaving actions,” said LaVarne Burton, President and CEO, American Kidney Fund. 

“No child or adult should die waiting for a liver transplant. We must work together to increase living organ donation, and the Living Donor Protection Act provides a tangible path forward by removing key barriers for those willing to give the gift of life. We are so grateful to Representatives Bacon and Nadler for their extraordinary leadership and commitment to advancing living donor transplantation, which will help thousands of liver patients throughout the country,” said Lorraine Stiehl, CEO, American Liver Foundation and caregiver to a transplant patient. 

“ASN commends the re-introduction of the Living Donor Protection Act and accompanying Living Donor FMLA Protection Act, critical legislation which will remove barriers that discourage living donors from providing the life-saving gift of a kidney transplant. Americans who are considering becoming living donors deserve more support than the current system provides for them, and ASN believes the Living Donor Protection Act and accompanying Living Donor FMLA Protection Act are critical to achieve this goal,” said Prabir Roy-Chaudhury, MD, PhD, FASN, President, American Society of Nephrology President.

“On behalf of the American Society of Transplantation (AST), representing a majority of the nation’s transplant medical professionals, our Society strongly applauds and endorses the re-introduction of the Living Donor Protection Act (LDPA). AST is grateful for the ongoing and steadfast leadership of Representatives Bacon, Nadler and Senators Cotton and Gillibrand to protect transplant patients and strengthen living donation. The LDPA is a patient-focused bill seeking to remove policy barriers that might otherwise prevent an individual from providing a lifesaving donor organ. AST greatly appreciates this bipartisan, bicameral, and patient centric legislation. We look forward to working with you to advance the LDPA in this 119th Congress,” said Dr. Jon Kobashigawa, MD, President, American Society of Transplantation. 

“On behalf of more than 2,000 transplant surgeons and professionals, the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) enthusiastically commends the champions of the Living Donor Protection Act (LDPA) for their unwavering commitment to saving lives. As a tireless advocate for this legislation since its inception—and a proud partner in shaping its recent progress—ASTS is thrilled to see the momentum continue following the bill’s strong bipartisan support in the 118th Congress. With a preliminary CBO score of zero, there is no better time for Congress to act. Passing the LDPA will provide vital, commonsense protections for living donors and remove unnecessary employment and insurance barriers to giving the ultimate gift: the gift of life,” said Ginny L. Bumgardner, MD, PhD, American Society of Transplant Surgeons.  

“Global Liver Institute strongly supports the Living Donor Protection Act as an essential step to save lives by making the donation process affordable for living donors and protecting their employment. This bipartisan legislation was a collaborative effort, reflecting the policies determined most important to support living donors as determined by organ donors, liver and kidney patients, the insurance industry, transplant professionals, nephrologists, advocacy organizations and disease professionals. We look forward to its final passage in the 119th Congress,” said Larry Holden, President and CEO, Global Liver Institute.  

“Living donors are heroes demonstrating compassion and generosity, and they are also rigorously screened individuals at the peak of health. Our family, friends and neighbors who choose to give the gift of a kidney enable thousands of Americans per year to resume a life where they can fully contribute to society, the economy, and their families rather than being limited by the life-support stopgap of dialysis. The ISGD enthusiastically endorses the Living Donor Protection Act,” said Laurel Damashek, Executive Director, International Society of Glomerular Disease and living donor kidney transplant recipient. 

“We applaud Representatives Bacon and Nadler for their continued leadership on the Living Donor Protection Act. Taking this new approach of splitting the bill to ensure a smoother passage is an appropriate and needed step. These bills are a bipartisan approach to address the national organ shortage crisis, remove barriers to transplantation and recognize the courage and generosity of those who choose to save lives through donation. We urge Congress to pass this legislation quickly,” said Kevin Longino, CEO, National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant recipient.

“As nonprofit dialysis providers, kidney transplant is an ideal outcome for many of our patients and legislation to protect and support living donors is critical to our patient-centered mission,” said Monica Massaro, Executive Director, Nonprofit Kidney Care Alliance.

“Polycystic kidney disease currently has no cure, and for many of the 600,000 patients living in the US, organ transplantation becomes their best path forward when kidney function declines. Living donors don’t just extend lives—they reduce strain on our health care system and save taxpayer money by helping patients avoid dialysis. Yet needless barriers disincentivize many from stepping up to help. The Living Donor Protection Act is a commonsense, bipartisan solution that will ensure living donors are protected, not penalized, for their generosity,” said Susan Bushnell, President and CEO, Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Foundation.

“As a pioneer in transplantation since performing New York State’s first living donor kidney transplant in 1963, The Rogosin Institute believes that kidney transplantation is the ideal treatment for patients with end-stage kidney disease. We are proud to wholeheartedly endorse all components of the Living Donor Protection Act.  Importantly, the Act will remove barriers to donation such as insurance uncertainty and financial insecurity. Rogosin extends our thanks to the bipartisan members of Congress supporting this critical legislation. We thank Congressmen Bacon and Nadler for championing the Living Donor Protection Act,” said The Rogosin Institute.

“Living organ donors save people’s lives and should be able to give the gift of life without fear of insurance discrimination or financial retribution, especially as they recover from surgery. The Living Donor Protection Act rightfully protects these selfless individuals from this. Thank you, Sens. Cotton and Gillibrand and Reps. Bacon and Nadler for your bipartisan leadership and for standing up for living organ donors,” said Maureen McBride, Ph.D., CEO, United Network for Organ Sharing.

The text of the bills can be found here and here.

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