Federal and State Legislation

In the past several years, there have also been many advances in legislation at both the federal and state level to ensure families are informed of their options of cord blood banking:

Federal Legislation

Based on the IOM recommendations, the federal government enacted legislation ("Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005," H.R. 2520) recognizes the benefits of cord blood stem cells by authorizing expanded collection and maintenance of 150,000 new cord blood samples through the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program (formerly the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry). While the focus of this bill is to expand the supply of donated (genetically unrelated) cord blood samples, the President and U.S. Congress reinforced the need for “information provided to the maternal donor regarding all of her medically appropriate cord blood options.”

State Legislation

The growing need for a suitable stem cell match has garnered the attention of state lawmakers. In response to their constituents, state legislators across the country are introducing legislation intended to help physicians and expectant parents understand the options for donating or banking cord blood stem cells. Many states have already passed or are considering passing this type of legislation.

Click here to view an interactive map of state-by-state legislation.