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Committee advances Charlotte Woodward organ-transplant anti‑discrimination bill unanimously
Summary
The Energy and Commerce Committee passed HR 15 20, named for transplant recipient Charlotte Woodward, to prohibit denying organ transplants solely because of disability. The bill passed the committee by a wide margin and drew largely bipartisan statements in support.
The Energy and Commerce Committee advanced HR 15 20, the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act, which would prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities in the organ transplant system.
Representative Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) and Representative Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), co‑sponsors of the measure, described the bill as narrowly tailored to prevent transplant centers from denying eligible patients life‑saving transplants based solely on disability diagnoses. Dingell, co‑chair of the Congressional Disabilities Caucus, told the committee the bill is named for Charlotte Woodward, who received a heart transplant as a child and testified publicly in favor of the measure.
The committee voted to approve the bill; the final recorded result in the markup was 46 ayes and 1 no and the chair announced the bill agreed to. Supporters said the legislation clarifies that disability alone may not be used to bar otherwise eligible patients from receiving transplants, and includes a mechanism for HHS review and enforcement.
Why it matters: Advocates and clinicians said the bill would reduce subjective exclusion of disabled patients from transplant lists and create a clearer process for appeals and HHS review. Members on both sides of the aisle urged speedy enactment to ensure equitable organ allocation.
Next steps: The committee advanced the bill to the full House for consideration.
