Democrats For Life of America (DFLA) applauded the US House of Representatives today for the passage of HR 2520, the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act, in a lopsided 413-0 legislative victory. This vote comes after the Senate passed the same bill on Friday. The bill now goes to President Bush for his signature.
The bill is better known as the "cord-blood bill" that will allow umbilical cords to be used for stem cell research. Umbilical cords are a rich, non-controversial source of stem cells. Currently hospitals throw millions of them away each year because the infrastructure required to properly collect and store them is not available. When signed into law by President Bush, the bill will increase the number of cord blood units and cord blood stem cells available for treating patients and expanding research will greatly increase.
"This bill will help in the ongoing effort to develop quality stem cells for scientific research. This is a great victory for those who want to help cure debilitating diseases," said DFLA Executive Director Kristen Day.
Despite passage of this landmark bill, DFLA noted that Republicans have cut funding for cord blood research from $9.9 million to $4 million in next year's budget bill. DFLA joins with Democratic leadership and asks others in the pro-life community to lobby the Republican House and Senate to restore this critical funding. "While I applaud the passage of this bill, I can't understand why the Republicans have decided to cut cord blood funding in half when there is clear bi-partisan support for this research," said Day.
Democrats For Life of America was founded in 1999 to mobilize Democrats at the local, state, and national levels. Their primary mission has been to help pro-life Democrats, support pro-life elected officials, promote a pro-life plank in the Democratic Party platform and achieve legislation that fosters respect for human life.
Democrats For Life of America currently has 41 state chapters with plans to expand the group into additional states by the end of the year. In addition to the grassroots support across America, the group has several Members of Congress who are actively promoting the group's mission.
Source: Democrats for Life of America Press Release
