An Easy Win for Your Legislative Session

As a state legislator, you're always looking for meaningful ways to serve your constituents. Passing a resolution to recognize National Blood Donor Month is a simple, bipartisan way to honor the volunteer blood donors in your district who help save lives every day. This page provides everything you need to introduce and pass this resolution in your state—including a template you can customize and guidance on partnering with your local blood center.

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A wooden gavel rests on a stand in a grand courtroom, symbolizing justice and the rule of law.

WHAT IS A RESOLUTION? 

A resolution is a formal expression of opinion or will by one or both chambers of your state's legislature. It looks in many ways like a bill, but is generally easier to get passed because it is less formal, does not carry a cost, and can be passed through a single chamber.

Resolutions are often used to commemorate an occasion—in this case, January as National Blood Donor Month. They provide an official way for your state to recognize the vital contribution of blood donors and raise awareness about the ongoing need for blood donations.

WHY INTRODUCE A RESOLUTION?

Passing a resolution recognizing National Blood Donor Month is a meaningful way to serve your constituents with minimal legislative effort:

Easy, Bipartisan Win: Resolutions don't carry fiscal costs and typically pass with broad support. It's a straightforward way to accomplish something meaningful for your district.

Honor Local Heroes:  Recognize the volunteer blood donors in your district who save lives every day. Your constituents will appreciate seeing their contributions formally acknowledged.

Build Community Partnerships : Working with your local community blood center creates valuable relationships with healthcare organizations serving your constituents.

Raise Critical Awareness: January is when blood donations are low. Your resolution helps encourage donations during a time when the need is great.

 

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HOW TO PASS A RESOLUTION IN YOUR STATE 

While National Blood Donor Month is in January, start now to ensure everything is ready. Even if your legislature isn't in session, you can begin working with your local blood center to prepare materials and build support for a smooth introduction when session begins. The process is straightforward and typically takes just a few weeks from start to finish:

Contact Your Local Blood Center: Your local blood center is your partner in this effort. They can provide you with customized resolution language specific to your state. data about blood donations and needs in your area, and stories of local donors and recipients. Don't know your local community blood center? Use the contact form below to be connected with the right organization in your state.

Review and Customize the Resolution: Your blood center will provide you with draft resolution language (or you can use the template below). Make sure it includes information specific to your state, recognition of your local blood center and their service, statistics relevant to your constituents, and any unique blood programs or partnerships in your state.

Build Bipartisan Co-Sponsor Support: This is a noncontroversial issue that typically receives broad support. Consider reaching out to colleagues from both parties, inviting members whose districts are served by the blood center, and including leadership from both chambers if pursuing a concurrent resolution. Your blood center can help identify legislators who may have connections to blood donation (as donors, recipients, or through family members).

Introduce the Resolution: Follow your state's standard procedures for introducing a resolution. Most states allow resolutions to move quickly through the process since they don't carry fiscal impact. Consider timing your introduction for early January to maximize the impact during National Blood Donor Month.

Introduce the Resolution: Follow your state's standard procedures for introducing a resolution. Most states allow resolutions to move quickly through the process since they don't carry fiscal impact. Consider timing your introduction for early January to maximize the impact during National Blood Donor Month.

Celebrate Passage: Once passed, work with your local blood center to share the news with constituents through press releases and social media, invite local blood donors to the capitol for a recognition ceremony, and encourage businesses in your district to host blood drives in January. This creates positive visibility for your office and honors the volunteers who serve your community.

FIND YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY BLOOD CENTER

Select your state and we'll connect you with the blood center serving your area.

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Customization Tips:

 

Make it personal: Add whereas clauses that highlight unique programs or statistics from your state. For example, if your blood center has a special trauma program, partnership with emergency services, or serves a specific population, include that information.

 

Highlight local impact: Include the number of hospitals served, patients helped annually, or any recent accomplishments of your local community blood center.

 

Recognize specific donors: Consider adding language that recognizes specific donor groups in your state (e.g., first responders, high school students, repeat donors).

read a delaware-passed resolution

SAMPLE, CUSTOMIZABLE RESOLUTION

Below is an example resolution that you can adapt for your state. Your local blood center can help you review and customize a resolution with information specific to your state and region:

State Resolution Recognizing National Blood Donor Month

WHEREAS, more than 50 years ago, January was designated as National Blood Donor Month (NBDM), as an annual observance meant to honor voluntary blood donors and encourage more people to donate blood at a time when blood supplies are historically low.
WHEREAS, [Your Local Community Blood Center] has been serving the community with the collection and distribution of lifesaving blood and blood products to patients in our local hospitals for more than [number] years.
WHEREAS, in our communities the need for a diverse blood supply is constant, but the supply is not; making volunteer blood donors the foundation for ensuring a safe and stable supply of blood products is available to help meet the medical needs of patients nationwide.
WHEREAS, a blood transfusion occurs in the U.S. every two seconds but only 3% of the eligible population actually donate blood, bringing about chronic blood shortages nationwide which have exposed the vulnerability of our nation's blood supply and revealed its need to be included in emergency preparedness plans.
WHEREAS, O- is the universal blood type, represented by just 6% of the population, and often used in trauma situations; making it the most needed blood type and most likely to be in short supply when there is a blood emergency.
WHEREAS, [Add state-specific information about blood programs, partnerships, or initiatives].
WHEREAS, Patients requiring blood transfusions include cancer patients, accident, burn, or trauma victims, newborn babies and their mothers, transplant recipients, surgery patients, chronically transfused patients suffering from sickle cell disease or thalassemia, and many more.
NOW THEREFORE, the [State] [Senate/House/Legislature] HEREBY RECOGNIZES the month of January as NATIONAL BLOOD DONOR MONTH in the State of [State]. We hereby urge all citizens to celebrate the cause of blood donation and recognize volunteer blood donors for their generous gifts. We further urge all eligible blood donors to donate regularly, and we encourage businesses and organizations throughout the State of [State] to sponsor community-based blood drives with [Blood Center Name], among other blood collection institutions, and provide citizens of our State with the opportunity to give.
Someone Needs Blood Every
Seconds in America

National Blood Donor Month was officially established in 1970 to recognize and honor the millions of Americans who voluntarily donate blood to help save lives.

ABOUT NATIONAL BLOOD DONOR MONTH

The designation came at a critical time when the need for safe, reliable blood donations was becoming increasingly important for modern medical care.

January was chosen as the month to celebrate blood donors because winter is traditionally a time when blood donations decline due to weather conditions, holiday travel, and seasonal illnesses. By focusing national attention on blood donation during this challenging time, organizers hoped to encourage more people to donate when the need was greatest.

The initiative was born from the recognition that volunteer blood donors are the sole source of life-saving blood products. Unlike many medical treatments that can be manufactured or synthesized, blood can only come from generous human donors willing to help their fellow Americans in times of medical crisis.

view the original proclamation