Congressman Chris Smith (R-Hamilton), a leader of several health causes in Congress, today introduced legislation that will significantly increase the nation’s inventory of stem cells obtained from placentas and umbilical cords, materials that have been proven to successfully treat a number of life-threatening diseases.

    While blood from the placenta and umbilical cord is rich in stem cells and successful in treating diseases, the nation’s inventory of cord blood units is too small and not genetically diverse enough, meaning ethnic minorities frequently find difficulties in securing timely transplants with units currently available.

    “By significantly increasing the nation’s supply of genetically diverse core blood units, treatment for several diseases such as sickle cell anemia, leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood and immune deficiency diseases, will be more widely available to the American people,” Smith said.

    Smith’s legislation authorizes $15 million in federal funds during Fiscal Year 2004 and $30 million in FY 05 to subsidize blood centers throughout the nation that agree to collect, prepare, and store the blood units that would then be available for use in transplantation treatments.  Smith’s goal is to boost and maintain the inventory to 150,000 units, a supply that would enable 90 % of the population to secure an acceptable stem cell match.

    An example of cord blood’s healing powers can be seen in treating sickle cell anemia, a painful blood-clotting condition that damages organs and tissue caused by abnormally shaped blood cells.  Sickle cell anemia can be successfully treated with stem cells from the placenta and umbilical cord. Because this disease disproportionately affects people of African decent, who currently face a less likely chance of finding a proper match, these patients will especially benefit from the larger inventory of diverse cord blood units.

    “In addition to helping cure many of today’s most serious diseases, recent scientific research suggests cord blood stem cells may lead to much improved treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, and several other fatal and debilitating conditions,” Smith said.

    Cord blood cell transplants are also the only prompt treatment available to aid people exposed to radiation or chemical agents during a terror attack.  Smith, whose district was hit hard by the fall 2001 anthrax attacks, has made improved treatments and response to biological, chemical, and radiological terror attacks a top legislative priority.

    “This legislation will provide the needed financial resources for blood centers to collect blood from the placenta and umbilical cord – material which though rich in stem cells is usually discarded – so our nation has an adequate supply of genetically diverse units,” he added.

    Smith’s bipartisan bill is supported by several Members of Congress including Rep. Artur Davis of Alabama, Richard Burr of North Carolina, and Edolphus Towns of New York.