Malliotakis Reintroduces Bipartisan End Kidney Deaths Act

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) and Congressman Josh Harder (CA-09) introduced the End Kidney Deaths Act, bipartisan legislation that would provide a refundable tax credit to living kidney donors who donate kidneys to strangers, specifically those waiting the longest on the kidney waitlist.

Specifically, this legislation will provide a $10,000 refundable tax credit per year for five years ($50,000 total) to living kidney donors who donate kidneys. If enacted, this legislation is expected to save up to 100,000 Americans currently on the waitlist and save taxpayers an estimated $10 to $37 billion.

“I am proud to reintroduce this legislation with my colleague as there are hundreds of thousands of Americans waiting for life-saving organ transplants," said Rep. 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."

"Every year, thousands of families lose a loved one waiting for a kidney transplant. It’s devastating because it’s entirely preventable,” said Rep. Harder. “This bill is simple: it encourages 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 public health.”

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.

View the Bill text HERE.

Last Congress, Malliotakis cosponsored 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 to provide protection of the Medicare Trust Fund.