Link to website of Congressman Mike Castle

Link to website of Congresswoman Diana DeGette


Castle (right) poses with (from left) Rabbi David Saperstein, Stem Cell Advocate Michael J. Fox and Rabbi Eric Yoffie at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism's (RAC) 2005 Consultation on Conscience


Congressman Mike Castle with stem cell advocate and Chair of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, Dana Reeve



Congresswoman Diana DeGette speaks at an important Stem Cell press conference



Representatives Castle and DeGette speak with Senator Tom Harkin his sponsorship of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act



Advocates from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation visit with Congressman Castle


Congressman Castle poses with a young sufferer of Parkinson's Disease & strong advocate for increasing federal funding of stem cell research

CASTLE-DEGETTE LEGISLATION H.R. 810 PASSES THE U.S. HOUSE!
FINAL VOTE: 238 to 194 (5/24/05)

EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH

Holding promise for a cure:

The nation's leading scientists believe that embryonic stem cell research has much greater potential than research using adult stem cells.

* Embryonic stem cells are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods of time and can easily be grown in culture.

* Embryonic stem cells are unspecialized or undifferentiated, meaning that they offer a potentially unlimited source of cells for organ transplantation and a model for drug discovery and studying human development.

* Embryonic stem cells can evolve into any cell type -- brain cell, heart cell, insulin-producing beta cell or nerve cell - which scientists hope one day can be used to treat a wide range of diseases including Parkinson's, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis and many others.

The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act

Representatives Mike Castle (R-DE) & Diana DeGette (D-CO)

Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) & Tom Harkin (D-IA)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bill:

The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act - 2005

Summary:

This bill expands the number of stem cell lines that are eligible for federally funded research, thereby accelerating scientific progress toward cures and treatments for a wide range of diseases and debilitating health conditions.

Under the current federal policy on human embryonic stem cell research, only those stem cell lines derived before August 9, 2001, are eligible for federally funded research. This bill lifts that restriction. Stem cell lines shall be eligible for federally funded research regardless of the date on which they were derived.

The bill also institutes stronger ethical requirements on stem cell lines that are eligible for federally funded research.

SECTION BY SECTION

Section 1 Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005

Section 2 Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Secretary shall conduct and support research on stem cells that have been derived from embryos if the following requirements are met:

  • Embryos used to derive stem cells were originally created for fertility treatment purposes and are in excess of clinical need;
  • The individuals seeking fertility treatments for whom the embryos were created have determined that the embryos will not be implanted in a woman and will otherwise be discarded; and
  • The individuals for whom the embryos were created have provided written consent for embryo donation.
The Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the NIH, shall issue guidelines 60 days after enactment. These guidelines shall ensure that federally funded researchers adhere to ethical considerations. The Secretary shall annually report to Congress about NIH stem cell research.

Additional Resources
-----------------------------------------------------