House Votes to Lift Ban on Federal Funding for Embryonic Stem Cell Research

House Votes to Lift Ban on Federal Funding for Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and 252 Democratic and Republican Representatives voted to pass the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (HR 3). The bill, which expands federal research on devastating diseases like Alzheimer's, diabetes and various cancers, is the third piece of legislation in the Democratic Majority's "100 Hours" agenda. Thompson was an original co-sponsor of the bill.

"The vote signifies a federal commitment to exploring every possible option available for curing these terrible illnesses," said Thompson in a statement. "Today, we cast a vote for hope."

The bill, which is also known as the DeGette-Castle bill after its bipartisan authors, authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support research involving embryonic stem cells, regardless of the date on which the stem cells were derived from an embryo. Currently, federal funds are limited to those stem cell lines that existed when President Bush issued an executive order on August 9, 2001.

The bill passed today only authorizes federal research funds for stem cell lines generated from embryos that would otherwise be discarded by fertility clinics. It also includes strict ethical guidelines for stem cell research.

"Federal restrictions on new lines have dashed the hopes of millions of Americans who are impacted by life-threatening illnesses that this research may cure," said Thompson. "In addition, America is losing top medical researchers and scientists to other nations without such restrictions."

"I am very proud that the Democratic Majority has made facilitating this life-saving research a cornerstone of our agenda."

http://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/index.asp?ID=109