[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H4642-H4643]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
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STEM CELL THERAPEUTIC AND RESEARCH REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2025
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 5160) to reauthorize the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research
Act of 2005, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5160
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Stem Cell Therapeutic and
Research Reauthorization Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE C.W. BILL YOUNG CELL
TRANSPLANTATION PROGRAM.
Section 379B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
274m) is amended--
(1) by striking ``appropriated $31,009,000'' and inserting
the following: ``appropriated--
``(1) $31,009,000'';
(2) in paragraph (1), as so inserted, by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) $33,009,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through
2031.''.
SEC. 3. CORD BLOOD INVENTORY.
(a) In General.--Section 2(a) of the Stem Cell Therapeutic
and Research Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 274k note) is amended by
striking ``at least 150,000 new units of high-quality cord
blood'' and inserting ``a sufficient supply, as determined by
the Secretary, of high-quality cord blood units''.
(b) Application.--Section 2(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 274k
note) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``in perpetuity or''; and
(2) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:
``(5) if the Secretary determines through an assessment, or
through petition by the applicant, that a cord blood bank is
no longer operational, does not meet the requirements
described in subsection (d)(4), or does not meet the
requirements of section 379(d)(4) of the Public Health
Service Act, and as a result may not distribute the high-
quality units, the Secretary may transfer the units collected
pursuant to this section to another qualified cord blood bank
or entity approved by the Secretary to ensure continued
availability of high-quality cord blood units.''.
(c) Duration of Contracts.--Section 2(d)(4) of such Act (42
U.S.C. 274k note) is amended to read as follows:
``(4) Consideration of best science.--The Secretary shall
take into consideration current scientific and clinical
information in order to maximize the availability of high-
quality cord blood units meeting applicable clinical and
quality standards for transplant when entering into contracts
under this section, or when extending a period of funding
under such a contract under paragraph (2).''.
(d) Inventory Management.--Section 2 of such Act (42 U.S.C.
274k note) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (e), (f), and (g) and as
subsections (f), (g), and (h), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
``(e) Inventory Management.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall manage the size and
composition of the National Cord Blood Inventory to maximize
clinical utility, ensure genetic diversity, and promote the
efficient use of resources.
``(2) Considerations.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Secretary may--
``(A) on the Secretary's own initiative or upon petition by
a qualified cord blood bank, make determinations regarding
the continued storage of cord blood units based on the best
available scientific and clinical evidence; or
``(B) prioritize the collection, retention, or disposition
of cord blood units based on scientific, clinical, or
operational considerations that the Secretary determines to
be relevant.''.
(e) Definitions.--Section 2(g) of such Act, as redesignated
by subsection (d)(1) of this section, is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs
(5) and (6), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
``(4) The term `high quality cord blood unit' means a cord
blood unit that meets current industry standards and any
requirements of the Food and Drug Administration.''.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 2(h) of such
Act, as redesignated by subsection (d)(1) of this section, is
amended by striking ``fiscal years 2022 through 2026'' and
inserting ``fiscal years 2027 through 2031''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
General Leave
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on H.R. 5160.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5160, led by my colleagues
Representatives Smith and Matsui to reauthorize the C.W. Bill Young
Cell Transplantation Program and the National Cord Blood Inventory
program. The C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program supports
patients across the country with identifying matching and facilitating
the distribution of bone marrow peripheral blood stem cells and cord
blood donors for those who need blood stem cell transplants.
This is critically important for those patients without a related
family member who is unable to donate.
For some patients, blood stem cell transplants are an opportunity for
remission or even a cure when other treatments have failed. This bill
ensures patients have access to these lifesaving opportunities.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5160, the Stem Cell
Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act. This bill reauthorizes
the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program and the National Cord
Blood Inventory, two programs that serve as national registries to
connect patients with lifesaving care.
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Each year, thousands of Americans are diagnosed with conditions that
could require stem cell transplants, such as leukemia, lymphoma, sickle
cell anemia, and other immune system disorders. Some patients have a
fully matched relative who can serve as a donor, but most patients
require a search for an unrelated donor. This transplantation program
helps identify, match, and facilitate the distribution of stem cells
and cord blood from unrelated donors.
The National Cord Blood Inventory program maintains a robust
inventory of high-quality cord blood units that can be used for
research or transplantation.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased we are considering this bill to extend
these programs. I encourage all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R.
5160, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Smith), my good friend.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, each year over 3.6 million
babies are born in the United States. In the past, virtually every
placenta and umbilical cord was tossed as medical waste. Today, doctors
have turned this medical waste into medical miracles.
Not only has God, in his infinite wisdom and goodness, created a
placenta and an umbilical cord to nurture and protect the precious life
of an unborn child, but now we know another gift awaits immediately
after birth. Something very special is left behind: umbilical cord
blood that is teeming with life-saving stem cells.
Mr. Speaker, today the House will vote to reauthorize the Stem Cell
Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005, a law that I authored 21 years
ago.
That law created a new nationwide umbilical cord blood stem cell
program designed to collect, type, and cryogenically freeze cord blood
units for transplantation into patients to mitigate and cure serious
disease. The law also provided that cord blood stem cells be used for
research. The new cord blood program was combined with an expanded bone
marrow initiative, crafted over several years by our distinguished
former colleague, Congressman Bill Young.
Mr. Speaker, umbilical cord blood stem cells obtained after the birth
of a child have proven to be highly efficacious in treating over 75
diseases, including lymphoma, leukemia, sickle cell disease, and other
metabolic and immune deficiencies.
I thank Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg of Duke University, an internationally
renowned expert in pediatric hematology, oncology, and umbilical cord
blood banking and transplantation. Dr. Kurtzberg helped draft our
original law 26 years ago. It took 5 long years to enact it into law.
It was blocked at many turns, but she was right there from the
beginning and continues to be an extraordinary pioneer in the field.
Earlier today, I called Dr. Kurtzberg--we do talk a lot--and she said
cord blood has been used as a donor for transplant, enabling over
50,000 patients with cancer, blood disease, and other genetic
conditions to have a life-saving treatment. Cord blood is also used as
starting material for manufacturing immune effector cells, like CAR T
cells, and others to treat patients with cancer and autoimmune
diseases. She said there is exciting research now using cord blood to
treat children with cerebral palsy, birth asphyxia, and autism.
Mr. Speaker, the National Cord Blood Inventory--created by the
original law and continued in this reauthorization--provides funding to
public cord blood banks participating in the program to allow them to
expand the national inventory of cord blood units that are available
for transplant. These units are then listed on the registry by the
National Marrow Donor Program. The funds appropriated thus far have led
to an important increase in the use of these units. The registry now
has approximately 121,000 available units.
The program registry allows patients and physicians to locate
matching cord blood units, as well as adult donors, for both marrow and
peripheral blood stem cell transplants.
Mr. Speaker, the program registry allows patients and physicians to
locate matching cord blood units, as well as adult a donors, for marrow
and peripheral blood stem cells. The program is the world's largest,
most diverse donor registry, with more than 43 million potential marrow
donors around the world. To date, NMDP, through its operation of the
program, has facilitated over 150,000 transplants.
The bill before us today, Mr. Speaker, authorizes $280 million for
these programs over 5 years--$115 million for cord blood, $165 million
for bone marrow programs--to ensure that thousands of present and
future patients benefit from this extraordinary field of regenerative
medicine.
Mr. Speaker, I am deeply grateful to Chairman Guthrie for his amazing
support and leadership in advancing the bill. I want to thank others,
including my friend Frank Pallone; Doris Matsui, who is the prime
Democrat cosponsor; Mr. Bilirakis, one of the originals and a great
supporter; Ms. Pingree; Ms. Tenney; Mr. Mfume; and others. We have
others, but they were the originals.
I also want to thank some of my staff, including Rebecca West, Evan
Heitman, John McDonough, who worked overtime--as you know, so many
details to be attended to--and, of course, the Staff Director Megan
Jackson; Emma Schultheis; and Jackie Weinrich, who worked on the
Democrat side in helping to get this to the floor. I thank them all so
much.
Mr. Speaker, this will save lives, and I urge support for it.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such much time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), a very important member of
our committee and chairman of the Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade
Subcommittee.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.
I rise today in strong support of the Stem Cell Therapeutic and
Research Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation that will save
lives by ensuring continued access to stem cell, bone marrow, and cord
blood transplants for patients across our Nation.
Every year, thousands of Americans battling leukemia, lymphoma,
sickle cell disease, and other blood disorders rely on the C.W. Bill
Young program to help find a compatible donor. For many patients, that
match is their only chance at survival, Mr. Speaker.
This legislation reauthorizes the program, modernizes the National
Cord Blood Inventory, and strengthens our Nation's transplant system to
help ensure patients continue to have access to these lifesaving
transplants.
I am grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for working
together to advance this important piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker,
Representative Smith of New Jersey has done an outstanding job over the
years. He has done a great job leading this particular bill. He works
on bills, Mr. Speaker, that positively directly affect our
constituents. We appreciate him and the great chairman and, of course,
Ranking Member Pallone.
I urge my colleagues to pass this good piece of legislation.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bill. It is not
only bipartisan, it is very important.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on the bill, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 5160, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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