REP. HIRONO VOTES TO GIVE MILLIONS HOPE BY GREATLY EXPANDING
EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH
By Passing S. 5, the House is Sending the Bill Directly to the President’s Desk
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Rep. Mazie K. Hirono voted to give hope to 100 million Americans by greatly expanding scientists’ access to embryonic stem cell lines—when she voted for S. 5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.
The House passed this critical bill this afternoon by a strong bipartisan vote of 247 to 176.
The House had passed a similar bill (H.R. 3), which Rep. Hirono cosponsored, as part of the "100 Hours Agenda" in January. The Senate then passed S. 5 in April. By passing the Senate-passed S. 5 today, the House is sending the bill directly to the President’s desk.
"Today Members of Congress, from both sides of the aisle, joined together to put patients first by passing this stem cell research enhancement bill," said Rep. Hirono. "This research has the support of more than 70 percent of Americans. I hope the President will show that he is listening to the people by reconsidering his veto threat and signing this bill," said Rep. Hirono.
This bill would expand the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research by lifting the restrictions on the embryonic stem cell lines that can be used for federally-funded research—restrictions that were imposed by President Bush in 2001. Most of the stem cell lines authorized for federally-funded research under the President’s policy are now no longer useful for research. However, the bill only authorizes federal research funds for stem cell lines generated from embryos that would otherwise be discarded by fertility clinics. The bill also creates an ethical framework that must be followed in conducting this research under the guidance of the National Institutes of Health.
The bill is supported by more than 500 organizations, including the American Medical Association, AARP, Association of American Medical Colleges, and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, as well as many faith-based groups.
"More than 100 million Americans suffer from cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, spinal cord injuries and other debilitating diseases and disorders for which embryonic stem cell research holds great promise in finding new and better treatments and cures," said Rep. Hirono. "It is time this groundbreaking research is allowed to move forward."
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