 My fellow Americans, before I get to the heart of my remarks today, I want to mention some important legislation currently before the Congress. I'm sure you're all aware of the difficulties some countries are having in meeting payments on their debts. Their problem touches all of us in a very real way and indeed poses a threat to the stability of the world financial order. For that reason, something called the International Monetary Fund was created some years ago. It's better known as the IMF, and that's how I'll refer to it. Nations, including our own, contribute to IMF and countries with temporary balance of payment problems borrow from it on a short-term basis. In order to get a loan, they have to agree to terms the fund managers lay down with regard to correcting the practices and policies that contribute to their financial difficulties. I've asked the Congress to approve an eight-and-a-half billion-dollar contribution to the fund. Some in the Congress and a great many citizens think this is a giveaway which will increase our deficit. The IMF is not foreign aid, and the eight-and-a-half billion dollars is not being given away. We will have additional drawing rights in that amount from the IMF. In fact, in its entire history, the two countries that have borrowed the greatest amounts from the fund have been the United Kingdom and the United States. The sum we're asking Congress to approve does not increase our budget and is returned with interest as loans are repaid. In addition, it creates jobs because it keeps the wheels of world commerce churning. Exports account for one out of five manufacturing jobs in the United States. The IMF and its programs help keep Americans at work. This is important legislation for international economic stability, and I hope you will support it. But today, I want to speak only of, or not speak, I should say, of great national issues. Instead, I'm taking to the airwaves in hopes we can save one little 11-month-old girl from Texas and many others like her. The young girl from Texas is Ashley Bailey, and all 11 pounds of her are in critical condition at the University of Minnesota Hospital in Minneapolis. She is now fed intravenously and has but two or three weeks to live unless she receives a liver transplant. Back in May, Congressman Charlie Stenholm of Texas wrote me of the plight of this baby girl who must receive a transplant to survive. The surgery was estimated to cost $140,000. The Congressman said there had been a tremendous outpouring of community and business support in the alley to live. They would have no hesitation in saying, save that little girl. I urge any of you who know of a possible liver donor for Ashley to call the Living Bank in Houston. The number is 800-528-2971. I repeat, the number 800-528-2971. Please call. There are many other children like Ashley. We're looking for donors for them as well. Right here in the White House, we have an electrician, Stuart Thomas, whose daughter Candy, another 11-month-old girl, is waiting for a transplant. The helicopter squadron at Andrews Air Force Base is alerted to transport Candy and her mother to Pittsburgh as soon as a suitable liver is found. In the last few days, we lost little Courtney Davis from Beaumont, Texas and Michelle H. Hard from Shenandoah Heights, Pennsylvania because we couldn't find livers to save their lives. Nancy and I received so many requests from families in need of organ donors that I directed the Surgeon General to conduct a conference on organ transplants. The major recommendation was to develop a public awareness program on organ donorship. This is underway and I hope my broadcast today adds to the momentum. The project will stress education for doctors, state highway police, hospital officials and others on the need to consider organ donorship when accidental death occurs. America has faced shortage in the past of everything from nylons during World War II to oil in the 1970s. But modern medical science has provided us with a new shortage, a shortage of living organs, livers, hearts, lungs, eyes, kidneys. I urge all Americans to fill out donor cards, little cards you carry in your wallet or purse that in the event of your death offer the hope of life to others. You can obtain these cards by simply calling your local kidney, heart or lung associations. Americans are giving people. In many of the cases where these very expensive operations are essential, local citizens have raised money to help the families in need. I've already mentioned the community support given to Ashley. Well, not far from Washington, Morningside, Maryland raised over $100,000 for the good family whose little Nikki needs a transplant. That kind of caring should make us all proud to be American. We can save more of our children and adults through organ donorship. Organ donors are for the greatest gift of all, the gift of life. Right now, Ashley Bailey as well as other desperately ill children are waiting for that gift. Please help us find donors for these children. Until next week, thanks for listening and God bless you.