Congress working to reauthorize federal stem cell and bone marrow programs

Congress is working to provide another five years of funding to the federal programs which oversee bone marrow and placenta donations and banks

Bipartisan lawmakers say these programs have saved well over 100,000 lives over the last 20 years

The bill authorizes $280 million for the programs through 2031. Sponsors of the bill say it's important that the federal government collect marrow and blood donations

and work to connect donors with patients in order to facilitate life-saving and innovative treatment

God, in his wisdom, created a placenta and an umbilical cord to nurture, protect the precious life of an unborn child

But now we find he left behind a great gift, a placenta, umbilical cord, and stem cells that are teeming with life-preserving and life-enhancing properties

Congresswoman Doris Matsui lost her husband to bone marrow cancer. At the time, there weren't

any treatments available. She says that inspired her to make sure these programs are successful

No patient ever has to hear what my husband and I heard that there are no options That to me is the worst possible words to hear When Congress was working to create these programs skeptics said no one would be willing

to donate bone marrow or stem cells to a stranger. 20 years later, more than 140,000 donations have

been made. Stem cell research and therapy has been seen as controversial because some cells

are derived from the fetal tissue obtained from abortions. The sponsors of this bill say there are

no ethical issues with placentas because they are donated after the baby is born. This is

absolutely non-controversial, absolutely ethical. I mean, it is the afterbirth that is medical waste

that used to be discarded that is now being turned into medical miracles. The placental tissue and

umbilical cord blood can treat more than 75 diseases, including certain cancers and blood

disorders. The potential is enormous, and it's all incredibly ethical, and it's recycling

biologic material that, like we've all said, used to be just thrown away. I'm Ray Bogan for

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