Patriot Heart
12-16-2005, 08:25 PM
From an email by Focus on the Family. Action needed.
CITIZENLINK ACTION ALERT
Dec. 16, 2005
Ask Sens. Reid and Harkin to Allow a Vote on the
Cord-Blood Research Bill
Senate Democrats are holding up a vote on
non-controversial legislation that would support the use
of umbilical-cord blood as a source for stem cells. The
technology is already offering cures and has a promising
future.
The bill provides for the creation of a public inventory
of 150,000 units of cord blood, which is estimated to
provide well-matched transplants for up to 90 percent of
the population in need.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., who is a
medical doctor, said he was disappointed that the
legislation was being stalled.
"This simple, non-controversial legislation is vitally
important to providing for the health and welfare of
patients now and in the future," he said. "There has been
virtually no opposition to this legislation, but it is
being blocked for political purposes."
Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, led the move to block a scheduled
vote Thursday evening.
Amanda Banks, federal issues analyst for Focus on the
Family Action, said people need to speak out and tell
Harkin and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to
stop holding cures hostage.
"Senators Harkin and Reid are playing politics with human
lives. They claim to support the cord blood legislation,
yet they will not allow a vote on it," she said. If
Democrats do not agree to a vote today before they go out
of session, it will be several months before a vote is
possible. That means cures will be delayed for months as
hundreds, if not thousands, of patients await a cord-blood
match."
TAKE ACTION: Call the Washington, D.C., and district
offices of Sens. Harkin and Reid immediately. Ask them to
allow a vote on H.R. 2520, the Stem Cell Therapeutic and
Research Act of 2005 today.
Sen. Tom Harkin:
Washington: (202)224-3254
Des Moines: (515)284-4574
Sen. Harry Reid:
Washington: (202)224-3542
Las Vegas: (702)388-5020
CITIZENLINK ACTION ALERT
Dec. 16, 2005
Ask Sens. Reid and Harkin to Allow a Vote on the
Cord-Blood Research Bill
Senate Democrats are holding up a vote on
non-controversial legislation that would support the use
of umbilical-cord blood as a source for stem cells. The
technology is already offering cures and has a promising
future.
The bill provides for the creation of a public inventory
of 150,000 units of cord blood, which is estimated to
provide well-matched transplants for up to 90 percent of
the population in need.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., who is a
medical doctor, said he was disappointed that the
legislation was being stalled.
"This simple, non-controversial legislation is vitally
important to providing for the health and welfare of
patients now and in the future," he said. "There has been
virtually no opposition to this legislation, but it is
being blocked for political purposes."
Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, led the move to block a scheduled
vote Thursday evening.
Amanda Banks, federal issues analyst for Focus on the
Family Action, said people need to speak out and tell
Harkin and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to
stop holding cures hostage.
"Senators Harkin and Reid are playing politics with human
lives. They claim to support the cord blood legislation,
yet they will not allow a vote on it," she said. If
Democrats do not agree to a vote today before they go out
of session, it will be several months before a vote is
possible. That means cures will be delayed for months as
hundreds, if not thousands, of patients await a cord-blood
match."
TAKE ACTION: Call the Washington, D.C., and district
offices of Sens. Harkin and Reid immediately. Ask them to
allow a vote on H.R. 2520, the Stem Cell Therapeutic and
Research Act of 2005 today.
Sen. Tom Harkin:
Washington: (202)224-3254
Des Moines: (515)284-4574
Sen. Harry Reid:
Washington: (202)224-3542
Las Vegas: (702)388-5020