2012 -- H 8130

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LC02558

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING THREE YEARS OF SAVING LIVES THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT

OF THE RHODE ISLAND UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD BANK

     

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Naughton, E Coderre, Petrarca, Malik, and Morrison

     Date Introduced: May 08, 2012

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, In June of 2008, the Rhode Island General Assembly enacted legislation

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entitled “The Umbilical Cord Blood Donation Notification Act”; and

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     WHEREAS, On Mother’s Day, May 10th of 2009, a pilot program to collect umbilical

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cord blood was instituted by the Rhode Island Blood Center in conjunction with Women &

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Infants Hospital. The initiative became the only program of its kind in Rhode Island and the first

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public cord blood program established in New England; and

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     WHEREAS, Pregnant mothers-to-be are asked to consider the safe and simple procedure

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of donating their umbilical cord blood after their child is delivered; and

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     WHEREAS, Cord blood transplants can improve the health of a patient suffering from

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one of more than 70 diseases, and because of the special nature of cord blood cells, a perfect

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match to a recipient is not required, thereby offering help to those who are in the most need; and

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     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Umbilical Cord Blood program is one of only twenty-

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eight programs accredited by the AABB, an international standards setting body; and

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     WHEREAS, Public cord blood is made available to patients around the world through the

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National Marrow Donor Program and other international networks. The goal of the program is to

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provide donations for 10,000 patients by 2015; and

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     WHEREAS, Cord blood transplants save lives; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby recognizes the staff of the Rhode Island Blood Center, Women &

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Infants Hospital, and the Rhode Island Umbilical Cord Blood program on the third anniversary of

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the establishment of Rhode Island’s public cord blood bank. We also offer sincere appreciation to

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all the mothers who have donated this life-saving gift; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the President of the Rhode Island Blood Center,

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the President and CEO of Women & Infants Hospital, and the Director of the Rhode Island

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Umbilical Cord Blood program.

     

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LC02558

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H8130