The Secretary of Health and Human Services Recognizes 2021 National DMV Appreciation Month

The Secretary of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C., 20201; Letter published September 13, 2021.

Dear Department of Motor Vehicles Staff:

Thank you for helping to register millions of organ, eye, and tissue donors. Thousands of individuals await lifesaving or life-enhancing organs, and your efforts aid many of them in receiving their needed organ transplants. Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMVs) across the country remain the primary source of organ donor registrations and your efforts are essential in improving the chance that those awaiting a transplant will find a match.

During this September 2021 National DMV Appreciation Month, we recognize each of you for your continued commitment to saving lives. Your extraordinary efforts have generated the vast majority of the more than 165 million registered organ donors in the United States. Your work enables more lifesaving transplants to be performed every year. In fact, in 2020 over 33,000 lives were saved with organs from deceased organ donors, which was the tenth consecutive annual record.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services serves the needs of the approximately 107,000 individuals awaiting an organ transplant. You are essential partners in our efforts. I join with the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Division of Transplantation, Donate Life America, and the donation and transplantation community at-large in thanking you for the work you do each day to help save and enhance lives.

Sincerely,

Xavier Becerra