You don’t see that kind of bipartisanship voting in Washington much these days, but when you do, it is time to stop and take notice! The senate passed it too! On Friday, while most of us were unaware, legislation was passed that would set up a National database for umbilical cord blood. “With the passage of this bill, we will now be able to turn medical waste — umbilical cords and placentas — into medical miracles for huge numbers of very sick and terminally ill patients who suffer from such maladies as leukemia and sickle cell anemia,” said Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.), who sponsored the bill along with Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.).

Of course this kind of bipartisan effort doesn’t get the mainstream media’s attention as it isn’t controversial. But what it is, is very good news for patients who can be helped with transplants from umibilical cord blood and placental blood, which are rich is adult stem cells.

Another win win!

Author Profile

Jennifer Lahl, CBC Founder
Jennifer Lahl, CBC Founder
Jennifer Lahl, MA, BSN, RN, is founder and president of The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network. Lahl couples her 25 years of experience as a pediatric critical care nurse, a hospital administrator, and a senior-level nursing manager with a deep passion to speak for those who have no voice. Lahl’s writings have appeared in various publications including Cambridge University Press, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Dallas Morning News, and the American Journal of Bioethics. As a field expert, she is routinely interviewed on radio and television including ABC, CBS, PBS, and NPR. She is also called upon to speak alongside lawmakers and members of the scientific community, even being invited to speak to members of the European Parliament in Brussels to address issues of egg trafficking; she has three times addressed the United Nations during the Commission on the Status of Women on egg and womb trafficking.