House Turns Attention Back to Stem Cell Bill

By Doug Carlson - Jun 5, 2007 - comment

The House of Representatives will consider as soon as Thursday, June 7, a Senate-passed bill to expand federal funding for research that requires killing human embryos.

The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 (S.5) would overturn President Bush’s August 9, 2001, policy barring federal taxpayer dollars from funding research on embryos other than those from stem cell lines already in existence at that date. Specifically, it would permit research on embryos unused during in vitro fertilization treatments.

If you agree that taxpayer dollars should not be used to federally fund research that will result in more destroyed human embryos, please tell your congressman to oppose S. 5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007.

Both the House and Senate have already passed embryonic stem cell funding bills, although different versions. The House passed its bill, H.R. 3, in the opening days of the 110th Congress, 253-174. The Senate followed a few months later by passing its version, S. 5, with almost a two-thirds majority, 63-34.

Rather than reconcile the two bills in a conference committee, the House leadership has determined to vote on S. 5, which differs by also including a section on certain alternative forms of stem cell research.

President Bush vetoed a similar bill last year and has committed to use his veto pen on this legislation as well. However, many supporters of S. 5 are wielding tremendous pressure on members of Congress who previously voted against the stem cell measures, in hopes they will switch positions and garner a two-thirds majority, enough to override a veto.

Despite the fact that embryonic stem cell research has produced no human treatments and has even caused tumors in lab animals, many advocates of this destructive research contend it holds the promise to curing scores of diseases and illnesses. Meanwhile, research using adult stem cells has treated at least 72 different ailments, including Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, spinal cord injuries, and sickle cell anemia. These non-embryonic stem cells, obtained through sources such as bone marrow, fat, placentas, and umbilical cord blood, do not harm the donor when extracting the stem cells.

If you agree that taxpayer dollars should not be used to federally fund research that will result in more destroyed human embryos, please tell your congressman to oppose S. 5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007.

Further Learning

Learn more about: Life, Stem-Cell Research, Citizenship, Legislation, National, Science, Bioethics

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