HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2001-4632, by Representatives Veloria, Van Luven, Linville, Pennington, Cody, Schual‑Berke, Carrell, Roach, Morris, Conway, Berkey, Santos, Tokuda, Talcott and Woods

      WHEREAS, At any given time, three thousand adults and children search the National Marrow Donor Program Registry for a lifesaving bone marrow donor match; and

      WHEREAS, Over four million volunteers have joined the National Marrow Donor Program, but only a small percentage of people of color are registered; and

      WHEREAS, Minorities and people of color are deeply needed to increase the chances of survival for minorities with leukemia and other blood disorders; and

      WHEREAS, Tissue type is inherited much like hair and eye color, patients are most likely to find a compatible donor with their own racial or ethnic group; and

      WHEREAS, A diverse group of potential donors is needed for patients of all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds because while the odds of Caucasian patients finding a match is nearly ninety percent, the chances of patients of color finding a match are as low as fifty-five percent; and

      WHEREAS, Various types of leukemia, aplastic anemia, severe combined immune deficiency syndrome, sickle cell anemia, and radiation poisoning are treated with marrow transplantation every year at approved medical centers; and

      WHEREAS, The National Marrow Donor Program reaches out to racially and ethnically diverse communities through specific awareness programs, relationships with local and national organizations, and specialized materials in an effort to educate communities of color; and

      WHEREAS, The National Marrow Donor Program and the Puget Sound Blood Center has integrated ethnically specific management strategies to quantify improvements in minority donor retention; and

      WHEREAS, Residents of Washington State such as John Stanford, former Seattle School Superintendent, and Archbishop Thomas Murphy died from leukemia; and

      WHEREAS, Washington state has a substantial minority population who may not be aware of this lifesaving opportunity to register as a donor; and

      WHEREAS, There are segments of Washington State's minority population that have much lower rates of participation;

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the state of Washington recognize and express appreciation for efforts to raise public awareness about blood‑related diseases and recruit people of color through education and promotion to become registered marrow donors in Washington; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the state of Washington also recognize the plight of all people afflicted with leukemia and other blood disorders in Washington, in the United States, and worldwide.

          I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

         Resolution 4632 adopted by the House of Representatives

                             March 21, 2001.

________________________________             _____________________________

Timothy A. Martin, Co-Chief Clerk          Cynthia Zehnder, Co-Chief Clerk