The Battle over Stem Cells

The Battle over Stem Cells

July 17, 2006

Stem cell research "could lead to treatments that save millions of lives and improve the quality of life for millions more." In fact, the benefits are already evident. Two weeks ago, scientists were able to transform embryonic stem cells "into immune cells known as T-cells — offering a way to restore immune systems ravaged by AIDS and other diseases," and last month, "a team at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore transplanted stem cells from mouse embryos into paralyzed rats and helped them walk again." Today, the Senate will begin debate on H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act; the best chance for our country to vigorously pursue research that scientists believe could revolutionize modern medicine. Make sure your senator supports H.R. 810.

• H.R. 810 would go a long way toward advancing science and research. H.R. 810 "would override rules put in place by President Bush five years ago that restrict federal funding to research on only those embryonic stem cells that were in existence as of August 2001." Under the new rules, the government could "pay for studies on stem cell colonies, or lines, derived from embryos that are in cold storage at fertility clinics and scheduled for destruction." The act maintains the federal ban on funding for the destruction of human embryos, and includes ethical guidelines that are "tighter than those under the president’s policy," according to the Parkinson's Action Network.
  
  
• Anti-stem cell Senators are ducking for political cover behind sham bills. Two other bills nominally related to stem cell research will be voted on this week. The Fetus Farming Prohibition Act of 2006 would ban the development of embryos solely for use in research, and the Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act promotes research using stem cells not derived from embryos. The bills are harmless but scientifically meaningless and "will not make substantive changes in policy." The National Institutes of Health, "which distributes federal research dollars, already has the authority to do what the bill boosting stem cell research without embryonic cells purports to do," while "the bill outlawing the practice of 'fetal farming' is not needed, scientists say, since researchers do not use such methods to generate cells."
  
  
• President Bush is expected to veto H.R. 810 if it passes the Senate. Bush has yet to veto any bill in his two terms in office until now. If the Senate passes H.R. 810, Bush will use his veto power for the first time to stop a bill that could benefit millions of sick Americans. Last week, Bush rejected an offer to meet with the House co-sponsors of H.R. 810, Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Mike Castle (R-DE) to discuss the issue and reach a sensible compromise. In a letter to Bush, Castle pleaded with him: “In keeping with your principles, the ‘life and death’ decision has been made — the donors have decided to discard these embryos and they will be discarded. Why not use the stem cells we can derive from these embryos, which will never become life, to help the millions of people suffering across the United States?” Bush's veto is expected to stand.