Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel praised President Barack Obama’s decision to issue an executive order to lift former President Bush’s ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Congressman Engel has long supported lifting the ban and believes that this will help to usher in a new era of cooperation between government and the scientific community – one which will hopefully result in a slew of groundbreaking discoveries.

“Our scientific research had been restricted by ideology rather than allowing science to progress. What President Obama has done is to restore scientific integrity to government decision-making. I have long believed that stem cell research does not end life – it honors life. Congress must now build upon today's order and adopt legislation to shield this valuable research from possible future ideological curbs so we can lead the world once again in scientific discovery,” said Rep. Engel.

“President Obama has given hope to people suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and many other diseases. He has provided for them a future where the government will use science and technology to try and find cures. If we have the tools to conduct new research to eliminate these terrible diseases, then we must pursue them,” said Rep. Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health.

Rep. Engel was an original co-sponsor of the bipartisan DeGette-Castle bill which passed both Houses of Congress in the last session only to be vetoed by President Bush. This legislation was designed to overturn President Bush's executive order limiting the number of stem cell lines eligible to be used for research. It also authorized the Department of Health and Human Services to support research involving embryonic stem cells which meet certain criteria.

Rep. Engel has once again co-sponsored H.R. 3, the Stem Cell Research Improvement Act. This bill will codify President Obama's executive order, allowing federal research of embryonic stem cells. The bill will also provide key research dollars to ensure that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) returns to being a leader in stem cell research worldwide.

He added, “Like the overwhelming majority of Americans, I am determined to provide our scientific community with every available opportunity to conduct this potential life-saving research so our citizens are cared for and those suffering with life-threatening illnesses may live to see a breakthrough or even a cure.”

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