A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION supporting January as National Blood Donor Month.

WHEREAS, a blood transfusion occurs every two seconds in the United States; and

WHEREAS, despite this need, only three percent of the eligible population chooses to donate blood; and

WHEREAS, type O blood is often used in trauma situations, making it the most needed blood type and the most likely to be in short supply; and

WHEREAS, every day, cancer patients, burn victims, newborn babies and their mothers, transplant recipients, surgery patients, individuals chronically suffering from sickle-cell disease or from thalassemia, and countless others may require blood transfusions to survive; and

WHEREAS, the need for a diverse supply of blood is constant, even when the supply is not, which means all blood donors' efforts are critical for ensuring patients' needs are met; and

WHEREAS, more than fifty-five years ago, January was designated as National Blood Donor Month, at a time when blood supplies were historically low, to annually recognize and honor voluntary blood donors and to encourage more people to donate blood;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the House of Representatives of the One Hundred First Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the Senate concurring therein, that National Blood Donor Month is recognized in the State of South Dakota, and that citizens are urged to celebrate the cause of blood donation and to recognize volunteer blood donors for their generous, life-saving gifts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all eligible blood donors are urged to donate regularly, and that businesses and organizations throughout the state are encouraged to sponsor community blood drives to provide citizens the opportunity to give.

Adopted by the House of Representatives, January 20, 2026

Concurred in by the Senate, January 26, 2026

_____________________ _____________________ Jon Hansen Patricia Miller

Speaker of the House Chief Clerk of the House

_____________________ _____________________ Chris Karr Peggy Laurenz

President Pro Tempore Secretary of the Senate

of the Senate