E-Newsletter - Stem Cell Research

Letter

E-Newsletter - STEM CELL RESEARCH

Dear friends,

Yesterday, President Bush vetoed the bipartisan Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. This is the second time the President has vetoed bipartisan legislation that would expand potentially life-saving stem cell research.

On June 7th, I voted for the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, which passed the House by a vote of 247 to 176. This bill would have authorized federal funding for research on stem cells that would otherwise be discarded by fertility clinics. Over 100 million Americans living with potentially curable diseases could have been helped if President Bush had signed this bill into law.

Yet, with the stroke of a pen, President Bush dashed the hopes and prayers of hundreds of millions of American families. The President's veto ignores the will of the American people, leading medical researchers, and a bipartisan majority in Congress. It is also a setback for anyone that has ever lost a loved one to cancer and those who are currently suffering from potentially curable diseases.

I share the disappointment and sadness that millions of Americans feel today. Hundreds of groups and millions of people have reached out to Congress and the President to pass stem cell research. As an original cosponsor of this bill, I spoke on the House floor to urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this critical legislation.

Despite the President's veto, I will continue to fight to lift the current restrictive policy on federal funding for research on embryonic stem cells. Like most Americans, I believe in the endless possibilities that stem cell research has to offer. As a nation, we cannot afford to turn our backs on this groundbreaking scientific research and literally throw away thousands of potential cures.

Sincerely,
Jan

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