HONORING KIDNEYS FOR COMMUNITIES THIS NATIONAL KIDNEY MONTH

HONORING KIDNEYS FOR COMMUNITIES THIS NATIONAL KIDNEY MONTH

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 40 (Tuesday, March 3, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 3, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E175] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING KIDNEYS FOR COMMUNITIES THIS NATIONAL KIDNEY MONTH ______ HON. STENY H. HOYER of maryland in the house of representatives Tuesday, March 3, 2026 Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, March is National Kidney Month--a fitting time to pay tribute to an organization that has not only changed lives but saved them by expanding access to kidney transplants from living donors: Kidneys for Communities. With a special focus on aiding first responders, children, and people in agricultural communities, Kidneys for Communities developed the first-ever national community-directed donation program. It helps educate and connect donors and recipients by leveraging its massive network of communities, employers, municipalities, and first responder organizations. At a time when we face a national kidney shortage, with some 100,000 Americans needing a kidney at any given moment but only an average of 6,500 living kidney donations made each year, this type or proactive outreach has never been more important. As a Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, I am particularly grateful for the organization's Kidneys for First Responders initiative. I thank the entire team at Kidneys for Communities for their work not only this month but year-round. They have done a terrific job supporting this effort to ensure our firefighters and other first responders receive the support they need. Kidney disease affects tens of millions of Americans in every neighborhood, town, city, district, and state in the Nation. It demands the attention of every Member of this Congress. That is why, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Kidneys for Communities for making America a healthier, stronger Nation. ____________________