Senate Committee Approves Bill to Unite Cord Blood and Bone Marrow Networks

June 29, 2005—The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee approved legislation (S 1317) earlier today that would combine the National Marrow Donor Program with a proposed umbilical cord blood bank network. The legislation passed by the HELP Committee incorporates the language included in the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005 (HR 2520) that passed the House on May 24 along with the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (HR 810).

The Bone Marrow and Cord Blood Therapy and Research Act of 2005 (S 1317) establishes a national network of centers under the rubric of the Bone Marrow and Cord Blood Cell Transplantation Program. This program would collect and maintain umbilical cord blood stem cells and bone marrow for treatment and research purposes as well as share a single case management office and database registry that would allow physicians to search for bone marrow and umbilical cord blood donors. The legislation authorizes $60 million over four years for collecting and storing 150,000 units of umbilical cord blood and $186 million over five years for creating the national cell transplantation program.

An agreement reached between Senate and House negotiators about the provisions in S 1317 ensures that the House will vote on the Senate-approved bill after passage by the full Senate. Most likely, the Senate will vote on S 1317 in July when it considers HR 810.

Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) is championing S 1317 in the Senate and is also very actively supporting HR 810. During the Committee debate on S 1317, Senator Hatch stated—along with several other colleagues—that support for an umbilical cord blood bank network will not take away their support for expanding federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. “We should be doing everything we possibly can,” Senator Hatch said. “Embryonic stem cell research and cord blood research will take us a long way.”

If you have questions, or need more information, please contact ASH Government Affairs Manager Jeff Coughlin at (202) 776-0544.