Staten Island Reporter

Today, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) joined Representatives Don Bacon (NE-02), Josh Harder (CA-09), and Joe Neguse (CO-02) in introducing the End Kidney Deaths Act, a bipartisan bill designed to provide a refundable tax credit to living kidney donors who donate kidneys to strangers, particularly those who have been on the waitlist the longest.

The End Kidney Deaths Act proposes a $10,000 refundable tax credit per year for five years ($50,000 total) for living kidney donors. If enacted, this legislation is projected to save up to 100,000 Americans currently on the waitlist and save taxpayers an estimated $10 to $37 billion.

“I am proud to introduce this legislation with my colleagues as there are hundreds of thousands of Americans waiting for life-saving organ transplants," said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. "Our legislation will save thousands of lives by offering an incentive for eligible donors to donate a healthy kidney to a fellow American in need and reduce the lengthy and costly wait times for thousands of Americans on the kidney transplant list who are undergoing treatment."

Between 2010 and 2021, 100,000 previously eligible Americans became too sick or passed away while waiting for a kidney transplant. For the last 15 years, more than 50% of those on the waitlist died before receiving a kidney transplant. Currently, 800,000 Americans suffer from kidney failure, a number that will likely exceed one million by 2030. From 2010 to 2021, 100,000 waitlisted candidates either died or became too sick to be transplanted and died on dialysis. In the past 25 years, there has been no increase in the number of living kidney donors, which has remained steady at around 6,000 annually.

"Donating a kidney is a great self-sacrifice that individuals do without recognition," said Congressman Don Bacon. “The End Kidney Deaths Act will provide a $50,000 refundable tax credit to living kidney donors who donate kidneys to strangers greatly increasing the supply of living kidney transplants. This legislation will be the first step in saving American lives money for taxpayers and decreasing the need for dialysis.”

"Every year thousands of families lose a loved one waiting for a kidney transplant. It’s devastating because it’s utterly preventable,” said Congressman Josh Harder. “Our bill is simple: we encourage people to donate a kidney to save a life and in return the government gives them a tax break. A clear win-win for the donor and our society.”

"Countless folks have donated their kidneys across Colorado and the United States with the sole intention of keeping a loved one or stranger alive. I'm proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation to ensure our potential kidney donors receive a tax credit and help save lives by cutting down on wait times," said Congressman Joe Neguse.

Congresswoman Malliotakis is also proud cosponsor of H.R.6860 - Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act which aims to ensure that individuals with End Stage Renal Disease continue to have equitable access to private healthcare and protect Medicare Trust Fund resources.

###