The Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005 
establishes a structure that can immediately begin collecting cord blood stem cell units, making them available to Americans suffering from a variety of diseases from blood cancers to neurological diseases. With the enactment of this bill, more patients currently waiting for cord blood stem cells will benefit right away.

Prior to the vote in the House, Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), who championed the legislation for three years, said, "Umbilical cords are a rich, non-controversial source of stem cells, but currently hospitals throw millions of them away each year because we do not have the infrastructure needed to properly collect and store them." "The best kept medical secret has been that thousands have been successfully treated with cord blood stem cells for more than 67 diseases including Leukemia and Sickle Cell Anemia. The infusion of federal funds will make this medical miracle available to thousands more and will ensure that research continues so that this source of stem cells can treat many other debilitating diseases."

Support for Roe v. Wade is Fading 
For 33 years Harris Interactive has been measuring attitudes toward the landmark Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade. The latest telephone survey of 1,016 adults indicates Roe v. Wade is supported by a slim 49% to 47% plurality, compared with 52% who favored the decision in 2005.

Despite apparent waning support, a substantial majority (63%) of those polled don't think it is likely that this Supreme Court will overturn Roe v. Wade over the next few years.

However, 40% of those polled favor laws that would make it more difficult for a woman to get an abortion, while another 40% say no change should be made to existing abortion laws, and 15% favor laws that would make it easier to get an abortion.

The percentage of U. S. adults who say women should be permitted to get an abortion under all circumstances (24%) has remained rather stable over the last decade. In comparison, 20% of adults think a woman should be able to get an abortion under no circumstances, compared with 21% a year ago.

Recently, the South Dakota state legislature passed a law that would ban all abortions except to save the life of the mother. Forty-four percent of respondents said they would support such a law if it was introduced in their state, compared with 52% who would oppose it. (The Wall Street Journal, 5/4/06)

Research Links Abortion To Suicidal Tendencies 
A report by CNSNews.com International Editor Patrick Goodenough revealed that researchers, headed by New Zealand professor and epidemiologist David M. Fergusson, who is pro-choice, links abortion in young women to suicidal tendencies, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, and other mental health problems. The professor says the research evidence is clear: "There's a distinct possibility — more than a distinct possibility — that abortion may have mental health consequences."

In an interview about the findings with an Australian radio host, Fergusson states: "I remain pro-choice. I am not religious. I am an atheist and a rationalist. The finding did surprise me, but the results appear to be very robust because they persist across a series of disorders and a series of ages . . . Abortion is a traumatic life event; that is, it involves loss, it involves grief, it involves difficulties. And the trauma may, in fact, predispose people to having mental illness."