My Organ Donation Measure Goes into Effect
Saving lives must be the number one priority for organ procurement organizations, which are responsible for getting donated organs to patients in need. Unfortunately, we have seen that this is not always the case. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’s new rule, which is modeled after my legislation, will finally ensure that these organizations are held accountable and subject to metrics that are clear and verifiable. The nearly 109,000 Americans who are currently waiting on an organ transplant, including 1,124 Hoosiers, can rest a little easier knowing that this rule is going to result in more organs reaching the patients who need them.
I have been working to reform the nation’s organ donation system dating back to my time in the U.S. House of Representatives when my friend, Marine Dave ‘Gunny’ McFarland from Jeffersonville, Indiana, died because his heart transplant never came. In July 2019, I introduced his legislation to bring greater oversight to OPOs and penned an op-ed outlining the need to act. In December 2019, HHS announced proposed rules to adopt performance measures similar to my bill. I also sent letter to the HHS Office of Inspector General and to HHS Secretary Alex Azar seeking a comprehensive examination of the adequacy of the organ procurement and transplantation system in the United States.
Two Bills Pass the Senate to Rename Post Offices in Dana, Kokomo
The Senate passed two bills last week that I introduced along with Senator Braun to rename post offices in Dana and Kokomo, Indiana.
The first bill would rename the post office in Dana, after Ernest ‘Ernie’ T. Pyle, the celebrated war correspondent and Hoosier journalist who was born near Dana. On April 18, 1945, Pyle was reporting on the U.S. Army’s 305th Infantry Regiment when he was killed. The bill now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
The second bill would rename the post office in Kokomo after Opha May Johnson, the first American woman to join the Marines. Johnson was was born in Kokomo in 1878. She began her service on August 13, 1918 during World War I and continued serving until her retirement in 1943.
Recognizing Service Members, Veterans, and Military Families
Last week, I delivered a floor speech in advance of the Thanksgiving holiday expressing gratitude to those who serve. I'm thankful for our service members. I'm thankful for Indiana's more than 400,000 veterans. I'm thankful for their selfless families. I hope that all Americans will join me today, this month, this Thanksgiving, and every day thereafter and reflect on these men and women, these fellow Americans, who sacrificed so much on behalf of all of us. Our country simply would not be the same without them. It arguably wouldn't exist without families like this prepared to sacrifice so much.
Click here or on the image above to watch my full remarks.
Introducing Hoosier Judicial Nominee Thomas Kirsch for Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
On Wednesday, I introduced Hoosier Thomas Kirsch during his confirmation hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Thomas Kirsch is nominated to serve as a District Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Court. Kirsch would fill the seat previously held by recently confirmed Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett.
When I interviewed Mr. Kirsch for the U.S. Attorney position, it was pretty clear to me that this is the type of individual that the people of Indiana wanted in their corner. He’s a man of character, he’s man of integrity, he believes in the rule of law, and he understands the role of judges is to apply the law and Constitution as written. And of course, is not to legislate from the bench. Based on his qualifications, experience, and temperament, I believe Tom Kirsch is the type of nominee who can, and should, receive bipartisan support from the Judiciary Committee and the full United States Senate.
COVID-19 Vaccines and the Need to Pass Critical Relief
We received encouraging news last week with announcements that two pharmaceutical companies have developed COVID-19 vaccines and will be seeking formal approval for emergency use from the FDA. Additionally, Eli Lilly, out of Indianapolis, has a treatment targeted towards those most at risk from COVID-19, which has already been approved for emergency use by the FDA. All of this is possible because of our innovators, our frontline scientists, and our incredible university system. The Trump administration is also to be commended for its Operation Warp Speed along with Republicans in the U.S. Senate who helped author this initiative in the CARES Act.
We need to build on our CARES Act success by passing the next round of assistance. Small business assistance is especially important as hundreds and thousands of businesses having permanently closed on account of this pandemic. They require additional help. I have been talking about this for months and I’ll continue to talk about this until we pass much-needed relief.
Click here or on the image below to hear my full remarks from last week’s Senate GOP Leadership Press Conference.
Bill to Update Great Lakes Environmental Sensitivity Index Maps Passes Senate
Last week, the Senate passed my bipartisan legislation to update the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps in the Great Lakes. This legislation would require the Great Lakes Region ESI maps to be updated for the first time in over two decades, joining maps for the East coast, West coast, and Gulf coast that have been updated more recently. It would also require periodic Great Lakes mapping updates. These new maps will provide more accurate assessments of coastal resources that are at risk of severe damage or a natural disaster, including endangered and threatened species, sensitive shoreline habitats, and widely used community resources such as beaches, parks and boat ramps.
The Great Lakes are one of America’s greatest natural resources. Hoosier families treasure our coastline along Lake Michigan and our close proximity to all the Great Lakes and it’s in all of our interests to robustly protect them. I’m glad the Senate voted to pass our bipartisan bill to update the ESI maps, allowing us to better protect our natural resources and effectively respond to natural disasters.
Cautioning Against Designating Houthis in Yemen as Terrorist Organization
Last week, I joined Senators Chris Murphy and Chris Coons in expressing concern about the adverse consequences of designating the entire Houthi movement in Yemen as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. We have reason to believe that this designation would further destabilize the country, which is already the home of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, make it harder to negotiate a peace agreement, and stop the important work of the many NGOs providing lifesaving assistance in the country. This designation would almost certainly prevent the critical delivery of food, medical supplies, and other items necessary to combat both COVID-19 and famine. Yemen remains the world’s worst humanitarian disaster, one that on occasion has been exacerbated by ill-advised policies in recent years. Creating new, additional obstacles to the delivery of food and medical aid during a global pandemic is not in the best interest of the United States, our regional allies and partners, or the people of Yemen.
Click here to learn more.
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