The Cord Blood Stem Cell Bill of 2005

United States Congressman Chris Smith helped pass legislation to promote the use and research into generating Stem Cells from Cord Blood. The bill was called the “Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005,” which authorized $265 million for bone marrow and umbilical cord treatment along with Stem Cell therapy.

The bill was later signed into law by President George W. Bush in December of 2005 and it authorized $79 million to fund the collection of Cord Blood Stem Cells and building the nation’s inventory of public umbilical Cord Blood supply by increasing the supply of cord blood units by 150,000. The goal of the law is to be able to match over 90 percent of the patients in need of cord blood by creating a large and diverse genetic cross section of cord blood units.

The law that was passed also started a national cord blood registry to match cord blood for those in need. A search system that would allow transplant physicians to search for bone marrow and cord blood will be participated in an inventory program which has the advantage of a single access point. As of September 2006, the federal government chose the National Marrow Donor Program to perform these duties.

Not only did the Stem Cell Act aim to increase cord blood stem cell research, it also increased the medical utilization rate for cord blood stem cells. It must be noted that the cord blood collected and designated unsuitable is given to research.