Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) today joined Assistant Assembly Speaker Felix Ortiz (D-Kings), a host of legislative colleagues, and organ and tissue donation advocates to jump-start lagging donation rates in New York State.

“We have an exciting opportunity to raise awareness and rapidly improve our organ and tissue donation rate. We feel a strong sense of urgency. Currently, only 23 percent of all eligible New Yorkers are registered. Nationally, the rate is 50 percent. We’re here to encourage people across our state to make the lifesaving decision to register today. It can make a profound impact on a recipient and their loved ones,” said Palmesano.

“New York’s chronic underperformance in organ and tissue donation is costing lives every day, and that trend must be reversed. The need for organ donation has touched my family, and I am committed to seeing legislation passed which will increase participation in the state’s Donate Life Registry. By registering, we can give hope to thousands of patients and families across New York waiting for organ and tissue donations; there is no time to waste,” said Ortiz.

“Action needs to be taken to address the public health crisis of organ scarcity in New York State. New York’s Organ and Tissue Donor Registry is one of the poorest- performing registries in the country, and our state has more than 10,000 men, women and children waiting to receive a lifesaving transplant,” said New York Alliance for Donation’s Executive Director, Aisha Tator.

The legislators were joined at the press conference by recipients who shared emotional stories of conquered illnesses and fresh starts, including Lauren Shields, for whom “Lauren’s Law” was named.

Ortiz and Palmesano announced legislation to increase citizen enrollment in New York State’s organ and tissue donation registry. One provision would allow sixteen-year-olds to register as organ donors, the same age at which they can secure a driver license.

The issue is particularly personal for Palmesano and his family. In 2006, he donated one of his kidneys to his sister. “It was one of the greatest privileges of my life,” said Palmesano. “It showed me, firsthand, how organ donation can make such an incredible impact on a family.”