HR1124: HR1124 Blood Plasma Donation Awareness Day in Georgia; February 17, 2026; recognize

26 LC 65 0032 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; and1 for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, the lives of millions of individuals are heavily reliant on life-saving therapies3 derived from human blood plasma, emphasizing the need for a rob ust and inclusive blood4 plasma collection infrastructure; and5 WHEREAS, the United States is home to a vast network of United States Food and Drug6 Administration licensed blood plasma donation centers, which collectively facilitated over7 493 million plasma donations from 2007 to 2021, underscoring the critical role these centers8 play in supporting healthcare in this country; and9 WHEREAS, approximately 33 million liters of blood plasma are meticulously fractionated10 each year, yielding essential therapeutic plasma proteins vital for a wide range of medical11 treatments, including emergencies related to uncontrollable bleeding, autoimmune disorders,12 sickle cell disease, and various chronic conditions; and13 WHEREAS, the demand for therapies derived from blood plasma has surged dramatically14 over the past two decades, driven by advancements in diagnosing rare diseases, elevated15 H. R. 1124 - 1 - 26 LC 65 0032 standards of patient care, and enhanced patient access to innov ative treatments, further16 highlighting the need for increased representation in blood plasma collection efforts; and17 WHEREAS, plasma-derived medicinal products (PDMPs) are indispen sable in managing18 urgent health crises tied to bleeding, autoimmune conditions, sickle cell disease, and chronic19 health issues, and play crucial roles in treating patients with rare and life-threatening20 illnesses, such as primary immunodeficiencies and hemophilia; and21 WHEREAS, millions of donations are made annually at blood plasm a collection centers22 throughout the United States, revealing the essential contribution these local collection sites23 make within the healthcare framework of this country and state and the pressing need for24 more diverse representation in the industry; and25 WHEREAS, the global blood plasma market has achieved remarkable financial growth,26 reaching approximately $30 billion in 2022, a significant increase from just over $5 billion27 in 2000, highlighting the enormous economic potential embedded within the plasma industry;28 and29 WHEREAS, sickle cell disease is a chronic, incurable genetic bl ood disease that30 disproportionately affects individuals of African descent, with approximately 100,000 people31 in the United States and over 11,000 people in this state living with the condition; and32 WHEREAS, sickle cell disease is most prevalent among individuals of African descent, with33 approximately 90 percent of those affected identifying as such, emphasizing the significant34 impact of this disease on communities of color; and35 H. R. 1124 - 2 - 26 LC 65 0032 WHEREAS, therapeutic plasma exchange has been recognized as a p otentially useful36 treatment in resolving complications of sickle cell disease, including acute chest syndrome37 and hepatic crisis, highlighting the critical need for accessib le and inclusive blood plasma38 collection infrastructure; and39 WHEREAS, Dr. Charles Richard Drew, an African American pioneering figure in modern40 blood banking and twentieth-century medicine, revolutionized blood plasma donation and41 storage processes, fundamentally shaping the field as it is known today, and his legacy serves42 as a powerful reminder of the importance of integration and rep resentation in the medical43 field; and44 WHEREAS, despite the significant contributions of individuals o f African descent who45 comprise over 86 percent of blood plasma donations nation wide, there are currently no46 plasma collection centers owned by individuals from this demographic in this state, a glaring47 disparity that underscores the need for awareness to promote a more representative blood48 plasma industry that reflects the communities it serves.49 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that50 the members of this body recognize February 17, 2026, as Blood Plasma Donation51 Awareness Day in Georgia.52 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized53 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution avai lable for distribution to the54 public and the press.55 H. R. 1124 - 3 -