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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Congresswoman Lois Capps cast her vote to support life saving stem cell research. Capps helped lead the effort to pass H.R. 3, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act in the House of Representative, and urged her Senate colleagues and President Bush to support the bill. Last summer President Bush exercised the first veto of his Presidency on H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, over the strenuous objections of Congresswoman Capps and tens of millions of Americans. In passing the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act today, House Democrats honored one of their central campaign pledges and the third piece of legislation of the Democrats’ ambitious “First 100 Hours” agenda.
“As a nurse, I know first hand that stem cell research offers great promise and provides much needed hope for millions of patients and their families,” said Capps. “Passing H.R. 3, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, will advance the possibilities of this life saving research. It is my hope the Senate will add their strong support to this life saving legislation, and together our voices and the voices of the American people calling for this research will be heard.”
Statement of Rep. Lois Capps
Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act HR 3
January 11, 2007
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.
I have been so proud to be part of the bipartisan effort to advance federally funded stem cell research and commend the tireless work of the bill’s cosponsors, Diana DeGette and Mike Castle.
It is evident that we will pass this bill today, but we know that hurdles will remain before the measure is signed into law.
All along the way, opponents of embryonic stem cell research have been spreading mistruths about what embryonic stem cell research entails and what its promises are.
For starters, I am shocked by how many times I have heard some of my colleagues claim that this research involves creation of life for the purpose of destroying it.
I would like to reiterate yet again that this bill explicitly states that only embryos created by in vitro fertilization, that would otherwise be discarded, may be used for this type of research.
By allowing researches to make use of embryonic stem cells, slated to be thrown out, we are giving purpose to these embryos.
In fact, through research, we will be able to give life to millions who suffer from illnesses that may be cured.
We’ve also repeatedly heard the argument that adult or amniotic fluid stem cell research alone will be enough.
But this is not the case and the world’s leading scientists concur that all stem cell research should be conducted together in order to maximize benefits.
Our President himself has stated his desire to put the United States at the forefront of science and innovation.
Getting him to sign this bill is one way to make that happen.
A vote against HR 3 would be setting us back even further and would let other countries get much farther ahead of us in the effort to cure the world’s most chronic diseases.
I urge my colleagues to vote enthusiastically in favor of HR 3.
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Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.
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