ICYMI: Lawler, Gottheimer Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Expand Organ Donor Registration

Valhalla, N.Y. - 10/23/26… Yesterday, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) announced the introduction of the bipartisan Lauren Shields Organ Donation Act during a press conference at Westchester Medical Center. The legislation aims to make organ donor registration more accessible by allowing Americans to register through a wider range of federal and state applications and improving how donor registration information is shared across registries.

The bill is named in honor of Lauren Shields of Stony Point, New York, whose experience as a transplant recipient inspired a lifelong commitment to organ donation advocacy. At just eight years old, Lauren received a life-saving heart transplant after a viral infection caused heart failure. She later received a kidney transplant from her mother in 2020.

The Lauren Shields Organ Donation Act would expand opportunities for Americans to register as organ donors through applications they already complete, including those for Social Security benefits, Medicare, veterans' benefits, passports, and federal individual income tax returns. The legislation would also direct the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a secure, automated electronic system to help update donor status across state and national registries.

Additionally, the bill would establish a grant program to help states incorporate donor registration into more applications and programs, including Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, and voter registration to make donor registration more accessible nationwide and help connect more patients with potentially life-saving transplants.

"Lauren Shields dedicated her life to giving others hope, and her legacy will continue to save lives for generations to come. I was proud to call Lauren a friend, and I know firsthand the impact she had on our community and her advocacy of organ donation. This legislation not only honors her life by making it easier for Americans to register as organ donors but it also helps ensure their wishes are reflected across all donor registries. At a time when thousands of Americans are waiting for a lifesaving transplant, this bipartisan legislation is an important step toward expanding access to organ donation and carrying forward Lauren's extraordinary legacy," said Congressman Lawler.

"When my mother was battling sarcoidosis, a rare lung disease, she tried valiantly to get a new lung - perhaps the only chance at saving her life. She never received one," said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). "The bipartisan Lauren Shields Organ Donation Act will build on Lauren's legacy and make it easier for Americans to register as organ donors, say yes across our country - just as Lauren would have wanted."

"Waitlist Zero is proud to support the Lauren Shields Organ Donation Act. This legislation will make it easier for Americans who want to give the gift of life to register as organ donors. Lauren understood the extraordinary power of organ donation personally. After receiving a heart transplant at just eight years old, Lauren devoted her life to advocating for organ donation. Tragically, Lauren died at just 26 while waiting for a kidney transplant. We can think of no more fitting tribute to her life than legislation that helps more Americans become organ donors and allows more patients to receive the lifesaving transplants they need. We are grateful to Representatives Lawler and Gottheimer for honoring Lauren's remarkable legacy and championing lifesaving organ donation," said Elaine Perlman, Executive Director, Waitlist Zero.

"Congressman Mike Lawler's sponsorship of the Lauren Shields Organ Donation Act is a meaningful step toward increasing organ donor registration and expanding access to lifesaving transplants. It is especially fitting that this legislation honors Lauren Shields, a Rockland County resident whose life exemplified the extraordinary impact of organ donation. After receiving a heart transplant at age eight and a kidney transplant from her mother in 2020, Lauren became a passionate advocate who helped inspire New York's Lauren's Law and devoted her career at LiveOnNY to supporting organ donation and transplantation. Her legacy lives on through this important effort to provide hope to the thousands of Americans awaiting a lifesaving transplant. We commend Congressman Lawler for his leadership and commitment to advancing this vital cause," said Mark E. Geller, MD, FACR, President and CEO, Montefiore Nyack Hospital, A member of the Montefiore Health System.

"For New York's hospitals and transplant programs, every additional donor represents another opportunity to save a life. The Lauren Shields Organ Donation Act is a commonsense measure that makes it easier to register as a donor and expands access to lifesaving transplants. The hospital community thanks Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) for their leadership and advancing efforts to increase organ donation. We also applaud the legacy of Lauren Shields, whose tireless advocacy helped advance organ donation in New York and continues to inspire this important work nationwide," said Kenneth E. Raske, President, Greater New York Hospital Association.

"The Healthcare Association of New York State has long supported efforts to raise awareness of organ and tissue donation and encourage donor enrollment," said Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., PhD, president and CEO, HANYS. "The Lauren Shields Organ Donation Act will create more opportunities for individuals to easily register as organ donors, helping the more than 8,000 New Yorkers awaiting lifesaving transplants. I thank Rep. Lawler for his leadership on this critical legislation that will ultimately save lives."

"As physicians, we see the profound impact transplantation can have on patients and families. Lauren Shields was a powerful example of that. After receiving a transplant as a child, she became a leading advocate for organ donation, helping shape policy in New York State," said Julia Iyasere, M.D., MBA, Senior Vice President, System Chief Medical Officer at NewYork-Presbyterian. "This legislation builds on that progress by bringing the same approach to communities across the country. We commend Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) for championing this bipartisan effort."

"Waitlist Zero is proud to support the Lauren Shields Organ Donation Act. This legislation will make it easier for Americans who want to give the gift of life to register as organ donors. Lauren understood the extraordinary power of organ donation personally. After receiving a heart transplant at just eight years old, Lauren devoted her life to advocating for organ donation. Tragically, Lauren died at just 26 while waiting for a kidney transplant. We can think of no more fitting tribute to her life than legislation that helps more Americans become organ donors and allows more patients to receive the lifesaving transplants they need. We are grateful to Representatives Lawler and Gottheimer for honoring Lauren's remarkable legacy and championing lifesaving organ donation," said Elaine Perlman, Executive Director, Waitlist Zero.

"Congressman Mike Lawler's sponsorship of the Lauren Shields Organ Donation Act is a meaningful step toward increasing organ donor registration and expanding access to lifesaving transplants. It is especially fitting that this legislation honors Lauren Shields, a Rockland County resident whose life exemplified the extraordinary impact of organ donation. After receiving a heart transplant at age eight and a kidney transplant from her mother in 2020, Lauren became a passionate advocate who helped inspire New York's Lauren's Law and devoted her career at LiveOnNY to supporting organ donation and transplantation. Her legacy lives on through this important effort to provide hope to the thousands of Americans awaiting a lifesaving transplant. We commend Congressman Lawler for his leadership and commitment to advancing this vital cause," said Mark E. Geller, MD, FACR, President and CEO of Montefiore Nyack Hospital and Mount Sinai Health System.

"As physicians, we see the profound impact transplantation can have on patients and families. Lauren Shields was a powerful example of that. After receiving a transplant as a child, she became a leading advocate for organ donation, helping shape policy in New York State," said Julia Iyasere, M.D., MBA, Senior Vice President, System Chief Medical Officer at NewYork-Presbyterian. "This legislation builds on that progress by bringing the same approach to communities across the country. We commend Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) for championing this bipartisan effort," said John Jurenko Senior Director of New York- Presbyterian.

"As physicians, we see firsthand how a transplant can change a patient's life, enabling them to regain their strength, return to school, and make plans that once felt out of reach," said David Lubarsky, MD, Chief Executive Officer of WMCHealth. "None of this is possible without organ donors and their families, and this legislation is a remarkable way to honor Lauren's legacy and expand the number of patients who benefit from the gift of organ transplantation. Thank you to Congressman Lawler and Congressman Gottheimer for highlighting this critical need, to Lauren's family for carrying in her advocacy, and all the physicians and organizations across the country that save lives every day."

Additional endorsing organizations include NYP, GNYHA, HANYS, American Heart Association, and Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

Photos from the event can be found HERE.

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

###