Washington, May 18, 2005 - Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to address the House for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks…

Thank you. Mr. Speaker,

One of the things Congress will address in the coming weeks and months is embryonic stem cell research.

It should be known, Mr. Speaker, that stem cell research is alive and well as we speak.

Adult stem cells are currently being used in all kinds of research, and to wonderful ends.

But organizations favoring embryo-destructive research are pushing Congress to approve legislation that would authorize federally funded research using stem cells from human embryos who are donated by their biological parents.

And the process of removing the stem cells will kill the embryos.
Each human being begins as a human embryo, Mr. Speaker.

But stem cells can be obtained without killing human embryos, from umbilical cord blood and from various types of adult tissue.

Already, humans have received therapeutic benefit from treatment with such “adult stem cells.”

Stem cell research is important, and I fully support funding adult stem cell research.

But embryonic stem cell research destroys human life. We should not destroy life to save life.