Representatives Wied (R-WI-8) and Schrier (D-WA-8) introduced <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5791?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22HR+5791%22%7D&s=1&r=1" target="_self">H.R. 5791, the Boosting Lifesaving Operations, Opening Donation (BLOOD) Centers Act</a>. This bipartisan legislation would streamline the licensure process for blood centers by creating an expedited pathway to add new apheresis collection sites under an existing license. This marks a significant advancement on a key priority in our <a href="https://americasblood.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Americas-Blood-Centers-2025-Advocacy-Agenda.pdf" target="_self">2025 ABC Advocacy Agenda</a>.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

I am writing to urge you to support H.R. 5791, the BLOOD Centers Act, introduced by Representatives Tony Wied (WI-8) and Kim Schrier (WA-8). This bipartisan bill would strengthen the blood supply while addressing a critical challenge that community blood centers across the country face — the lengthy federal licensing delays that prevent new blood collection sites from opening quickly.

The BLOOD Centers Act does not change any safety standards. It simply streamlines the administrative process so that blood centers can begin using blood collected at newly approved locations without unnecessary delay. By doing so, it helps ensure that donated blood can be collected faster and get to patients more quickly— wherever and whenever it’s needed most.
Community-based blood centers provide 60 percent of the nation’s blood supply and are vital to hospitals, trauma centers, and patients who rely on lifesaving transfusions every day. Outdated regulations slow their ability to respond to local and regional patient needs — and this bill provides a commonsense fix.

Please consider cosponsoring H.R. 5791, the BLOOD Centers Act, or introducing companion legislation in the U.S. Senate to improve the quantity of our nation’s blood supply and streamline the opening of new blood centers.

H.R. 5791 The BLOOD Centers Act