ENHANCED DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ORGAN AND TISSUE DONOR PROGRAM.

SEC. 741. ENHANCED DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ORGAN AND TISSUE DONOR PROGRAM. (a) Findings.— Congress makes the following findings: (1) Organ and tissue transplantation is one of the most remarkable medical success stories in the history of medicine. (2) Each year, the number of people waiting for organ or tissue transplantation increases. It is estimated that there are approximately 39,000 patients, ranging in age from babies to those in retirement, awaiting transplants of kidneys, hearts, livers, and other solid organs. (3) The Department of Defense has made significant progress in increasing the awareness of the importance of organ and tissue donations among members of the Armed Forces. (4) The inclusion of organ and tissue donor elections in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) central database represents a major step in ensuring that organ and tissue donor elections are a matter of record and are accessible in a timely manner. (b) Responsibilities Regarding Organ and Tissue Donation.— (1) Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding after section 1108, as added by section 721(a)(1), the following new section: “§ 1109. Organ and tissue donor program “(a) Responsibilities of the Secretary of Defense.— The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the advanced systems developed for recording armed forces members’ personal data and information (such as the SMARTCARD, MEDITAG, and Personal Information Carrier) include the capability to record organ and tissue donation elections. 112 STAT. 2074 “(b) Responsibilities of the Secretaries of the Military Departments.— (1) The Secretaries of the military departments shall ensure that— “(1) appropriate information about organ and tissue donation is provided— “(A) to each officer candidate during initial training; and “(B) to each recruit— “(i) after completion by the recruit of basic training; and “(ii) before arrival of the recruit at the first duty assignment of the recruit; “(2) members of the armed forces are given recurring, specific opportunities to elect to be organ or tissue donors during service in the armed forces and upon retirement; and “(3) members of the armed forces electing to be organ or tissue donors are encouraged to advise their next of kin concerning the donation decision and any subsequent change of that decision. “(c) Responsibilities of the Surgeons General of the Military Departments.— The Surgeons General of the military departments shall ensure that— “(1) appropriate training is provided to enlisted and officer medical personnel to facilitate the effective operation of organ and tissue donation activities under garrison conditions and, to the extent possible, under operational conditions; and “(2) medical logistical activities can, to the extent possible without jeopardizing operational requirements, support an effective organ and tissue donation program.”. (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section 1108, as added by section 721(a)(2), the following new item: “1109. Organ and tissue donor program.”. (c) Report.— Not later than September 1, 1999, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on National Security of the House of Representatives a report on the implementation of section 1109of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (b)).