S. 4109Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated June 25, 2026 at 4:41 AM UTC

The Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2026 renews the 2005 law and extends its programs through 2031. It provides continued and increased funding for the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program, revises how the national cord‑blood inventory is managed by replacing a fixed unit target with a supply‑based approach, adds new authority for transferring and overseeing cord‑blood units, defines what counts as a high‑quality unit, and adjusts the timing and scope of periodic scientific reviews.

Key Provisions

Continues funding of the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program with $31,009,000 for FY 2026 and adds $33,009,000 each year for FY 2027‑2031.
Changes the cord‑blood inventory goal from a fixed target of 150,000 new units to a “sufficient supply” determined by the Secretary, allowing more flexible management.
Gives the Secretary authority to transfer cord‑blood units from banks that are no longer operational or do not meet current clinical and quality standards to other qualified banks or entities.
Requires the Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Council on Blood Stem Cell Transplantation, to manage the size and composition of the National Cord Blood Inventory to maximize clinical utility, genetic diversity, and efficient use of federal resources.
Defines a “high‑quality cord blood unit” as one that meets current industry standards and FDA requirements.
Updates the periodic scientific review schedule: the first review begins one year after enactment, expands the review to include high‑quality cord blood units and emerging technologies, and sets the review deadline to three years after enactment.

Legislative Activity

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SenateCalendars Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 443.

June 22, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 17, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1093)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

March 17, 2026

SenateCommittee

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

June 17, 2026

SenateCommittee

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Cassidy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

June 22, 2026

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 443.

June 22, 2026

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 4109 on the floor

1 Democrat

Sen. Jack ReedD-RI · Mar 17, 2026

Mr. President, today, I am pleased to introduce the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2026 with Senators Tim Scott, Tina Smith, and James Lankford. Our bipartisan bill will…

Mr. President, today, I am pleased to introduce the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2026 with Senators Tim Scott, Tina Smith, and James Lankford.

Our bipartisan bill will reauthorize the C.W. Bill Young National Marrow Donor Program and the National Cord Blood Inventory, which help individuals diagnosed with leukemia and lymphomas, sickle cell anemia, and rare genetic blood disorders find suitable bone marrow or umbilical cord blood donors.

More than 18,000 individuals are diagnosed with diseases like blood cancer and sickle cell disease each year and hope for a blood stem cell or bone marrow transplant to help treat or even cure their disease. Since the 1980s, the public registries created under these programs have been a lifeline for the more than 75 percent of Americans who do not have a matched donor in their families. By strengthening and enhancing the important programs operating these registries, many more Americans will be afforded the opportunity to find a match if they are ever in need.

I look forward to swift consideration of this legislation in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and working toward passage in the full Senate.

Mr. President, I am pleased to be introducing the Educating Medical Professionals and Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and Readiness, EMPOWER, for Health Act with Senator Murkowski. Our bipartisan legislation would reauthorize funding for the title VII health professions programs to help strengthen the distribution, quality, and diversity of the health professions workforce so it is better prepared to meet the country's evolving and emerging health care needs.

The title VII health professions programs have a longstanding history of increasing the supply of primary care professionals, expanding access to care in rural and urban underserved areas, and developing a workforce that reflects the Nation's diversity and the needs of patients. At a time when the country is facing persistent health provider shortages, it is critical that we continue to support the programs that build our healthcare workforce, such as scholarships for disadvantaged students, public health and preventive medicine, geriatrics training, area health education centers, oral health training, and primary care medicine.

These education and training programs guide current and aspiring health professionals to high-demand careers in areas of greatest need, and this legislation will take an important step in ensuring that these programs can continue to serve students and patients for years to come. Our legislation addresses some ongoing challenges with the Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program, clarifying eligibility requirements and making it easier for qualified pediatric subspecialists to apply.

I want to thank the stakeholders supporting this bill, including AIDS Action Baltimore, AIDS Foundation Chicago, the AIDS Institute, the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Association of Medical Colleges, the American Public Health Association, the American Society for Microbiology, the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, Big Cities Health Coalition, the Children's Hospital Association, Fast-Track Health, the Gerontological Society of America, the HIV Dental Alliance, the HIV Medicine Association, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, the National Association of County & City Health Officials, the National Association for Geriatric Education, the National Hispanic Medical Association, NMAC, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, and the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists and I urge my colleagues to join me and Senator Murkowski in working to pass the EMPOWER for Health Act this year.

Sen. Jack ReedD-RI · Mar 17, 2026

Mr. President, today, I am pleased to introduce the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2026 with Senators Tim Scott, Tina Smith, and James Lankford. Our bipartisan bill will…

Bill Text

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Reported to SenateIssued June 22, 2026

Calendar No. 443

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4109

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 17, 2026

Mr. Reed (for himself, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Ms. Smith, and Mr. Lankford) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

June 22, 2026

Reported by Mr. Cassidy, with an amendment

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

A BILL

To reauthorize the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2026.

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.

Cord blood inventory

Section 2(g) of the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 274k note) is amended by striking 2026 and inserting 2031.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2026.

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.

Cord blood inventory

Section 2 of the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 274k note) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a), by striking the inventory goal of 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;

(2)

in subsection (c)—

(A)

in paragraph (2), by striking in perpetuity or; and

(B)

by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:

(5)

agree to the terms described in subsection (e).

;

(3)

in subsection (d)—

(A)

in paragraph (1), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting paragraphs (2) and (4); and

(B)

in paragraph (4)—

(i)

in the heading, by striking science and inserting available scientific and clinical evidence; and

(ii)

by striking the best scientific information available in order to maximize the number of cord blood units available and inserting current scientific and clinical information in order to maximize the availability of high-quality cord blood units meeting applicable clinical and quality standards;

(4)

by redesignating subsections (e) through (g) as subsections (g) through (i), respectively;

(5)

by inserting after subsection (d) the following:

(e)

Transfer of units

If the Secretary determines through an assessment, or through petition by a qualified cord blood bank, that a cord blood bank is no longer operational, does not meet clinical and quality standards informed by current scientific and clinical information, does not meet the requirements for an extension under subsection (d), 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 units, the Secretary may transfer the units collected by such cord blood bank 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.

(f)

Inventory management

(1)

In general

The Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Council on Blood Stem Cell Transplantation as appropriate, 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 Federal resources.

(2)

Considerations

In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary may—

(A)

on the initiative of the Secretary 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; and

(B)

prioritize the collection, retention, or disposition of cord blood units based on scientific, clinical, or operational considerations, as the Secretary determines appropriate.

;

(6)

in subsection (h), as so redesignated—

(A)

by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively; and

(B)

by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:

(4)

The term high-quality cord blood unit means a unit of cord blood that meets current industry standards and requirements of the Food and Drug Administration.

; and

(7)

in subsection (i), as so redesignated, by striking 2022 through 2026 and inserting 2027 through 2031.

Periodic review of state of science under the National Program

Section 379(o) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 274k(o)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (1)—

(A)

by striking Not less and inserting Beginning 1 year after the date of enactment of the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2026, not less; and

(B)

by striking and birthing tissues and inserting , high-quality cord blood units (as defined in section 2(h) of the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005), and other emergent technologies; and

(2)

in paragraph (2), by striking June 30, 2025 and inserting 3 years after the date of enactment of the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2026.

June 22, 2026

Reported with an amendment