Ask Your Members of Congress to Co-sponsor the Living Donor Protection Act

Background

On March 1, 2017, the "Living Donor Protection Act of 2017" was reintroduced to Congress by Congressman Jerrold Nadler and Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler.

Where Did the Legislation Originate?

The AST's public policy team has worked alongside other national organ transplant stakeholder leader organizations as well as a bipartisan group of Congressional leaders to develop and introduce this important public policy proposal.

The national transplant advocacy community is now working together to drive the advancement of this key legislation through direct lobbying of Capitol Hill and encouraging grassroots contacts between association members (like yourselves) and their two U.S. Senators and one Member of the U.S. House of Representatives. 

What Does the Legislation Do?

Under current law, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) does not specify that living organ donors can take unpaid leave to recover from their donation and does not guarantee that donors will have a job waiting for them after surgery. Further, according to a 2007 study in the American Journal of Transplantation, as many as 11 percent of living organ donors experience difficulty securing or paying for insurance after their procedures because of discriminatory practices.

The Living Donor Protection Act would protect living organ donors and promote organ donation in three easy, low-cost ways:

1. Prohibit life, disability, and long term care insurance companies from denying or limiting coverage and from charging higher premiums for living organ donors;
2. Clarify that living organ donors may use FMLA time to recover from the surgeries and procedures involved in donation; and
3. Direct HHS to update their materials on live organ donation to reflect these new protections and encourage more individuals to consider donating an organ.​

How May I Assist in the Congressional Passage of the Living Donor Protection Act?

Most Effective = Call or Email Your Congressional Offices with AST Pre-Drafted Message
Easy Pass = Personalize AST Pre-Drafted Letter to Your Congressional Offices and Click "Send"

I.  Personal Constituent Contact with the Offices of Your Members of Congress in Washington, DC
The preferred grassroots method to advance legislation is to personally make contact with the offices of your three Members of Congress (Two U.S. Senators & One U.S. House Representative).

• Click here to identify your Members of Congress

• Call your three Congressional offices in Washington, DC.
• Upon reaching the Congressional office front desk staff, immediately identify yourself as a local constituent of that particular Member of Congress.
• Additionally, state where you work as a constituent within the local transplant community (university, medical center, transplant program, etc).
• Request to speak with the Healthcare Legislative Assistant (LA);
• If unavailable, ask to leave a message for the office Healthcare LA and/or request the email address of the healthcare LA.
• Discuss, leave a voicemail, or email your three Congressional Office Healthcare Legislative Assistants (LA) conveying:
  • I am a local constituent of the Member of Congress and work at [____] institution and/or transplant program.
  • I am calling you today to request that your boss consider co-sponsoring the Living Donor Protection Act recently reintroduced in the U.S. Senate & House of Representatives.
  • The Living Donor Protection Act H.R. 1270 seeks to strengthen & protect the rights of living organ donors.
  • The Living Donor Protection Act Would protect living organ donors and promote organ donation in three easy, low-cost ways:
    • Prohibits life, disability, and long term care insurance companies from denying or limiting coverage and from charging higher premiums for living organ donors;
    • Clarifies that living organ donors may use FMLA time to recover from the surgeries and procedures involved in their donation; and
    • Directs HHS to update their materials on live organ donation to reflect these new protections and encourage more individuals to consider donating an organ.
  • The legislation was reintroduced by Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) & Congresswoman Jamie Herrera Beutler (R-WA).
  • As a local constituent and organ transplant leader from [____], I thank you in advance for your consideration of my request to co-sponsor the Living Donor Protection Act. This important legislation will further remove policy barriers and disincentives for those individuals seeking to provide a lifesaving donor organ to another human being.
  • The Living Donor Protection Act would directly benefit local organ transplantation and save lives within our home state. 
  • Please do not hesitate to contact me directly by email or telephone at [YOUR CONTACT INFO].

II.  Customize Draft Letter and Click "Send" for Easy Delivery to Your Members of Congress

You may use this draft letter for your two U.S. Senators:

Dear Senator______,

Re: Cosponsor Living Donor Protection Act H.R. 1270.

I write to you today as a local constituent, healthcare provider, and leader within our home state organ transplant community. On behalf of the thousands of individuals current awaiting a life saving donor organ, I respectfully request your consideration in cosponsoring the Living Donor Protection Act H.R.

The Living Donor Protection Act would directly benefit local organ transplantation and save lives within our home State. The bill seeks to 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 for living organ donors;
2. Clarifies that living organ donors may use FMLA time to recover from the surgeries and procedures involved in their donation; 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.

The bipartisan & bicameral legislation was reintroduced recently by Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) & Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA).

I thank you in advance for your consideration of my request to cosponsor the Living Donor Protection Act. This important legislation will further remove policy barriers and disincentives for those individuals seeking to provide a lifesaving donor organ to another human being.
Please do not hesitate to contact me directly by email or telephone at [YOUR CONTACT INFO].

Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]

You may use this draft letter for your member of the U.S. House of Representatives:

Dear Representative______,

Re: Cosponsor Living Donor Protection Act H.R. 1270

I write to you today as a constituent, healthcare provider, and organ transplant leader within our local Congressional district. On behalf of the thousands of individuals current awaiting a life saving donor organ, I respectfully request your consideration in cosponsoring the Living Donor Protection Act H.R. 1270.

The Living Donor Protection Act would directly benefit local organ transplantation and save lives within our home State. The bill seeks to 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 for living organ donors;
2. Clarifies that living organ donors may use FMLA time to recover from the surgeries and procedures involved in their donation; 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.

The bipartisan & bicameral legislation was reintroduced recently by Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) & Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA).

I thank you in advance for your consideration of my request to cosponsor the Living Donor Protection Act. This important legislation will further remove policy barriers and disincentives for those individuals seeking to provide a lifesaving donor organ to another human being.
Please do not hesitate to contact me directly by email or telephone at {YOUR CONTACT INFO].

Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]