House Resolution 1124
By: Representatives Kahaian of the 81st, Stinson of the 150th, Martinez of the 111th, Reeves
of the 99th, Griffin of the 149th, and others
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing February 17, 2026, as Blood Plasma Donation Awareness Day in Georgia; and
for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the lives of millions of individuals are heavily reliant on life-saving therapies
derived from human blood plasma, emphasizing the need for a robust and inclusive blood
plasma collection infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the United States is home to a vast network of United States Food and Drug
Administration licensed blood plasma donation centers, which collectively facilitated over
493 million plasma donations from 2007 to 2021, underscoring the critical role these centers
play in supporting healthcare in this country; and
WHEREAS, approximately 33 million liters of blood plasma are meticulously fractionated
each year, yielding essential therapeutic plasma proteins vital for a wide range of medical
treatments, including emergencies related to uncontrollable bleeding, autoimmune disorders,
sickle cell disease, and various chronic conditions; and
WHEREAS, the demand for therapies derived from blood plasma has surged dramatically
over the past two decades, driven by advancements in diagnosing rare diseases, elevated
standards of patient care, and enhanced patient access to innovative treatments, further
highlighting the need for increased representation in blood plasma collection efforts; and
WHEREAS, plasma-derived medicinal products (PDMPs) are indispensable in managing
urgent health crises tied to bleeding, autoimmune conditions, sickle cell disease, and chronic
health issues, and play crucial roles in treating patients with rare and life-threatening
illnesses, such as primary immunodeficiencies and hemophilia; and
WHEREAS, millions of donations are made annually at blood plasma collection centers
throughout the United States, revealing the essential contribution these local collection sites
make within the healthcare framework of this country and state and the pressing need for
more diverse representation in the industry; and
WHEREAS, the global blood plasma market has achieved remarkable financial growth,
reaching approximately $30 billion in 2022, a significant increase from just over $5 billion
in 2000, highlighting the enormous economic potential embedded within the plasma industry;
and
WHEREAS, sickle cell disease is a chronic, incurable genetic blood disease that
disproportionately affects individuals of African descent, with approximately 100,000 people
in the United States and over 11,000 people in this state living with the condition; and
WHEREAS, sickle cell disease is most prevalent among individuals of African descent, with
approximately 90 percent of those affected identifying as such, emphasizing the significant
impact of this disease on communities of color; and
WHEREAS, therapeutic plasma exchange has been recognized as a potentially useful
treatment in resolving complications of sickle cell disease, including acute chest syndrome
and hepatic crisis, highlighting the critical need for accessible and inclusive blood plasma
collection infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Charles Richard Drew, an African American pioneering figure in modern
blood banking and twentieth-century medicine, revolutionized blood plasma donation and
storage processes, fundamentally shaping the field as it is known today, and his legacy serves
as a powerful reminder of the importance of integration and representation in the medical
field; and
WHEREAS, despite the significant contributions of individuals of African descent who
comprise over 86 percent of blood plasma donations nation wide, there are currently no
plasma collection centers owned by individuals from this demographic in this state, a glaring
disparity that underscores the need for awareness to promote a more representative blood
plasma industry that reflects the communities it serves.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body recognize February 17, 2026, as Blood Plasma Donation
Awareness Day in Georgia.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the
public and the press.