DeGette Lauds Passage of Stem Cell Bill Urging the President to Sign It into Law
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. House of Representatives today passed S. 5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act on a vote of 247 to 176. Chief Deputy Whip Diana DeGette (C-CO), the original sponsor of the House version, praised its passage saying "the Congress has again respected the will of the American people by sending this potentially life-saving legislation to President George W. Bush. The only one now blocking this from becoming law is our defiantly stubborn President."
Despite the fact that support for embryonic stem cell research among the American public continues to grow [64% Gallup Poll, 5/07], the President refuses to heed the will of the American people. In July of 2006, the President vetoed this bipartisan bill - making it the very first veto of his Presidency.
Click here to watch U.S. Rep. DeGette's floor statement.
Below are U.S. Rep. DeGette's floor remarks - as prepared for delivery:
"I rise today to express frustration - frustration that I believe I share with the majority of Americans throughout this country. Everyday, millions of patients suffer from debilitating diseases and conditions. For many, embryonic stem cell research is the most promising source of potential treatments and cures. Unfortunately, because of the stubbornness of one man - President Bush - these people continue to suffer as they wait.
"Since the discovery of embryonic stem cells in 1998, the vast majority of biomedical researchers have continued to identify embryonic stem cell research as the most promising source of treatments for diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injury. With the unique ability to become any cell in the body, embryonic stem cells truly are the key to allowing science to reach a whole new level.
"Unfortunately, President Bush has stubbornly refused to pay attention to these scientists and the patients who might be helped by this research. Specifically, in August 2001, the President announced that he would prohibit the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from funding research on embryonic stem cell lines created after August 2001. Though originally thought to be great in number, it has since been found that less than 20 stem cell lines are viable under these guidelines.
"Despite the President's opposition to this research, Congress has acted to allow federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. In 2006, Congress first passed a bill similar to the one before us today. Specifically, the bill would require the National Institutes of Health to conduct and support research on stem cells that have been derived from embryos if the following requirements are met:
1. Embryos used to derive stem cells were originally created for fertility treatment purposes and are in excess of clinical need;
2. 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
3. The individuals for whom the embryos were created have provided written consent for embryo donation.
"And let me remind my colleagues that under current law there are no ethics guidelines governing stem cell research.
"Unfortunately, President Bush vetoed that bill. During the 2006 elections, embryonic stem cell research became a critical issue in many races and an even greater number of stem cell supporters are here today as Members of Congress, as a result.
"This past January, the House took up identical legislation (H.R. 3) and passed it with an overwhelming bipartisan majority. In early April, the other body took up its own measure which is before us today. Effectively, this bill is the same as H.R. 3, but with additional language requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct and support basic and applied research to develop stem cell lines that are not derived from a human embryo.
"After passage here today, I hope that President Bush will take this opportunity to listen to the will of the people and sign the "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act" into law.
"In the meantime, while the NIH remains limited to studying a minute number of stem cell lines, the rest of the world has eagerly filled the void. The state of California has recently authorized several billion dollars to conduct embryonic stem cell research. In Japan, the United Kingdom, and Singapore, billions of dollars have been allocated for this research. As a result, the NIH is slowly losing its influence as the preeminent authority in biomedical research in the world.
"Since I first began working on this issue, public support for embryonic stem cell research has only increased. According to a Gallup poll released this week, since May of 2002 to just last month, support for medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos has steadily increased from 52 percent to 64 percent. Mr. Speaker, the public gets it. The Senate gets it. The House gets it. Why doesn't the President?
"Opponents of embryonic stem cell research cite other stem cell research as a potential replacement for embryonic stem cell research. Just yesterday, reports were released about recent studies that show how scientists have successfully created stem cells that can become any part of the body produced from mouse skin cells. We welcome this development, as we welcome all advances in ethical life-saving research. However, this new scientific advancement should not be used as an excuse to abandon other promising science, such as embryonic stem cell research (ESC).
"The vast majority of scientists, including the authors of these studies, agree that embryonic stem cell research offers the greatest promise for developing treatments and cures for countless diseases and conditions. According to Kevin Eggan, one of the lead researchers, 'All of us strongly agree with human embryonic stem cell research. These experiments were not motivated by a desire to find an end run around those issues.'
"Despite what some opponents say to the contrary, embryonic stem cell research being conducted throughout the world is beginning to garner results. Just this week, scientists in England announced that they planned to use embryonic stem cells to cure a common form of blindness, macular degeneration. They believe that they will begin using this treatment on patients within five years. This will have a profound impact on those who are essentially are because of this degeneration.
"Four years from now, my youngest daughter will begin college. She has type 1 diabetes and must manage her disease every day. As you can imagine, I am anxious about the idea of my child having to manage such a serious condition all by herself. I share this anxiety with many parents of affected children, including some of my colleagues in this chamber today.
"If we begin to fund embryonic stem cell research now, it may not be too long when parents won't have these worries because such diseases have been cured. Mr. Speaker that is why we are here today. The chance for so many to live a life that others take for granted.
"Vote for S. 5 to restore hope!"
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