WASHINGTON - In the last 24 hours, the House and Senate passed bills that would establish a national cord blood bank and increase spending on research regarding the therapeutic value of cord blood cells.  U.S. Representative Artur Davis, who was the lead Democratic House sponsor of this bill, issued the following statement:

“For more than two years, I have worked with Congressman Chris Smith to pass this legislation, which I know will save lives.  This bill is a good Christmas present to many families suffering from blood related diseases.

“I am convinced that God gave us the gift of genius for a reason—so that we might close the gap between where we are in this imperfect world and where we could be.  The scientific work on cord blood cells and stem cells is an example of this genius in action, and I hope that Congress will continue to support this work.”

The cord blood bill will establish a national cord blood registry with a goal of developing an inventory of 150,000 units so that matched stem cells will be available to 90 percent of patients who need them.  The bill also authorizes $15 million annually in funding for the effort and reauthorizes the National Bone Marrow Registry.

This latest legislative success continues a successful three years of work for the second term congressman.  Five other Davis sponsored bills have also become law, including bills restoring funding for the HOPE VI housing grants and for black land grant colleges; a bill honoring the victims of the Sixteenth Street Church bombing; as well as legislation setting aside 200 million dollars for down-payment assistance for middle and low-income families.