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Media Contact: 

Hannah Marshall | hmarshall@themotionagency.com 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

ASTS Applauds Senate HELP Committee for Passage of Living Donor Protection Act; Encourages Swift Senate & House Action 

ARLINGTON, VA – February 26, 2026 – The American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) applauds the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) in passage of the Living Donor Protection Act (LDPA) (S. 1552 / H.R. 4582 and H.R. 4583).  

This bill represents nearly 20 years of legislative, political, policy review and negotiations between dozens of stakeholders representing living organ donors and transplant recipients, transplant professionals, and insurers. 90,000 patients are waiting for lifesaving kidney transplants, according to data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.

The LDPA removes barriers to living organ donation by prohibiting discrimination in life, disability, or long-term care insurance, and codifies access to employment leave through the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). 

James Markmann, MD, PhD, President of ASTS, said, “Our society of transplant surgeons played an important role in achieving consensus to advance this bill over the last two decades, working closely with all stakeholders and key policymakers to make today’s action a reality.”   

Markman added, “We know from years of published data that the greatest disincentives to transplant are losing a job or not being able to obtain insurance. This bill tackles those two issues directly, providing important assurances to the public that their gift of life is valued, honored, and protected by law.”   

ASTS and other stakeholders are redoubling their advocacy in the US House of Representatives. Passage of identical legislation in the House would make this bill the law of the land, providing these important assurances to donors and recipients, their families, and transplant providers who serve them. 

For more information on ASTS advocacy efforts please visit https://www.asts.org/advocacy.  

###  

American Society of Transplant Surgeons 

The American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS), founded in 1974, is the premier professional organization dedicated exclusively to the field of transplant surgery in North America. ASTS unites more than 2,000 transplant surgeons and allied health professionals committed to advancing the art and science of transplant surgery through patient care, research, education, and advocacy. The Society plays a leading role in shaping standards of practice, providing cutting-edge professional development, fostering innovations in surgical care, and advocating for policies that improve outcomes for transplant patients and their families. ASTS also supports the transplant community through resources, events, and initiatives that promote excellence and collaboration in transplantation. For more information, visit ASTS.org. 

Media Contact: 

Hannah Marshall | hmarshall@themotionagency.com 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

ASTS Applauds Senate HELP Committee for Passage of Living Donor Protection Act; Encourages Swift Senate & House Action 

ARLINGTON, VA – February 26, 2026 – The American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) applauds the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) in passage of the Living Donor Protection Act (LDPA) (S. 1552 / H.R. 4582 and H.R. 4583).  

This bill represents nearly 20 years of legislative, political, policy review and negotiations between dozens of stakeholders representing living organ donors and transplant recipients, transplant professionals, and insurers. 90,000 patients are waiting for lifesaving kidney transplants, according to data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.

The LDPA removes barriers to living organ donation by prohibiting discrimination in life, disability, or long-term care insurance, and codifies access to employment leave through the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). 

James Markmann, MD, PhD, President of ASTS, said, “Our society of transplant surgeons played an important role in achieving consensus to advance this bill over the last two decades, working closely with all stakeholders and key policymakers to make today’s action a reality.”   

Markman added, “We know from years of published data that the greatest disincentives to transplant are losing a job or not being able to obtain insurance. This bill tackles those two issues directly, providing important assurances to the public that their gift of life is valued, honored, and protected by law.”   

ASTS and other stakeholders are redoubling their advocacy in the US House of Representatives. Passage of identical legislation in the House would make this bill the law of the land, providing these important assurances to donors and recipients, their families, and transplant providers who serve them. 

For more information on ASTS advocacy efforts please visit https://www.asts.org/advocacy.  

###  

American Society of Transplant Surgeons 

The American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS), founded in 1974, is the premier professional organization dedicated exclusively to the field of transplant surgery in North America. ASTS unites more than 2,000 transplant surgeons and allied health professionals committed to advancing the art and science of transplant surgery through patient care, research, education, and advocacy. The Society plays a leading role in shaping standards of practice, providing cutting-edge professional development, fostering innovations in surgical care, and advocating for policies that improve outcomes for transplant patients and their families. ASTS also supports the transplant community through resources, events, and initiatives that promote excellence and collaboration in transplantation. For more information, visit ASTS.org. 

Media Contact: 

Hannah Marshall | hmarshall@themotionagency.com 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

ASTS Applauds Senate HELP Committee for Passage of Living Donor Protection Act; Encourages Swift Senate & House Action 

ARLINGTON, VA – February 26, 2026 – The American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) applauds the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) in passage of the Living Donor Protection Act (LDPA) (S. 1552 / H.R. 4582 and H.R. 4583).  

This bill represents nearly 20 years of legislative, political, policy review and negotiations between dozens of stakeholders representing living organ donors and transplant recipients, transplant professionals, and insurers. 90,000 patients are waiting for lifesaving kidney transplants, according to data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.

The LDPA removes barriers to living organ donation by prohibiting discrimination in life, disability, or long-term care insurance, and codifies access to employment leave through the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). 

James Markmann, MD, PhD, President of ASTS, said, “Our society of transplant surgeons played an important role in achieving consensus to advance this bill over the last two decades, working closely with all stakeholders and key policymakers to make today’s action a reality.”   

Markman added, “We know from years of published data that the greatest disincentives to transplant are losing a job or not being able to obtain insurance. This bill tackles those two issues directly, providing important assurances to the public that their gift of life is valued, honored, and protected by law.”   

ASTS and other stakeholders are redoubling their advocacy in the US House of Representatives. Passage of identical legislation in the House would make this bill the law of the land, providing these important assurances to donors and recipients, their families, and transplant providers who serve them. 

For more information on ASTS advocacy efforts please visit https://www.asts.org/advocacy.  

###  

American Society of Transplant Surgeons 

The American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS), founded in 1974, is the premier professional organization dedicated exclusively to the field of transplant surgery in North America. ASTS unites more than 2,000 transplant surgeons and allied health professionals committed to advancing the art and science of transplant surgery through patient care, research, education, and advocacy. The Society plays a leading role in shaping standards of practice, providing cutting-edge professional development, fostering innovations in surgical care, and advocating for policies that improve outcomes for transplant patients and their families. ASTS also supports the transplant community through resources, events, and initiatives that promote excellence and collaboration in transplantation. For more information, visit ASTS.org. 

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