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12/19/2005

CWA Commends Congress for Passing Cord-Blood Bill

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 /Christian Wire Service/ -- Concerned Women for America (CWA) is thrilled that Congress has passed The Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005, introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-New Jersey). Although passed in the House in May, the cord-blood bill was stalled in the Senate for months.

This life-saving legislation will establish a national cord-blood registry to facilitate patients' treatment and will allow patients to be treated with umbilical-cord blood-stem cells, an effective and ethical treatment for a variety of diseases.

"This is a victory for all who have sought to pass this legislation for more than two years," said Lanier Swann, CWA's Director of Government Relations. "Congressman Chris Smith has championed this issue, and today he has the gratitude of thousands of patients who will benefit from its passage.

"Despite the liberal left's attempts to play politics with patient's lives by holding this bill hostage, the grassroots rallied together and exposed the liberals' playbook for what it is. Final passage of the Cord Blood Bill should serve as a reminder to all Americans that their voices do indeed make a difference on Capitol Hill."

"Unlike the empty promises of embryonic stem-cell research, cord-blood stem cells provide patients with real treatment and cures," said Wendy Wright, CWA's Executive Vice President. "Thousands of patients will have more than just their hopes realized -- their lives will be saved and suffering relieved, because this law will make ethical cord-blood stem cells available to them.

"We are grateful for the persistence of congressmen who stood up to the bullies who tried to hold hostage real cures and treatments for patients, in order to push their unethical political agenda."

Concerned Women for America (CWA) is the nation's largest public policy women's organization.