Act offers chance to reduce kidney deaths

As a living kidney donor myself, I can speak firsthand to the life-changing impact that kidney donation can have — not just for the recipient but for the donor as well. The decision to donate a kidney is a deeply personal one. It involves physical risk, emotional investment and a commitment to saving a life. But it’s also one of the most rewarding choices a person can make. That’s why I am urging Rep. Mike Quigley, Sen. Richard Durbin and Sen. Tammy Duckworth to cosponsor and champion the End Kidney Deaths Act.

Rep. Quigley represents a district where 1,225 people are currently on dialysis, and 18% of them will die annually while waiting for a kidney transplant. This is not just a statistic — these are mothers, fathers, children and neighbors who are losing their lives because they cannot get the treatment they need in time. The End Kidney Deaths Act is an innovative solution that would provide a refundable tax credit to living kidney donors who donate to strangers.

For up to five years, each donor would receive $10,000 annually, helping to compensate them for the financial burdens and challenges they face while donating. Even factoring this in, the End Kidney Deaths Act will save taxpayer money.

Even if the deceased kidney donor rate were at 100%, it still wouldn’t be enough to solve the kidney shortage. These living donor kidneys are also longer-lasting than those from deceased donors, ensuring that these individuals will have healthier, longer lives.

Rep. Quigley, Sen. Durbin and Sen. Duckworth have a long track record of fighting for progressive causes and health care solutions that improve the lives of their constituents. Supporting this legislation would be an extension of that commitment.

In Illinois alone, thousands are on dialysis, and many will never make it to the transplant list. With kidney failure on the rise, the End Kidney Deaths Act offers a vital opportunity to make a lasting difference.

Jesse Gainsburg

Chicago