Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Floor Speech

Embryonic Stem Cell Research

(Ms. DeGETTE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, embryonic stem cell research has the potential to cure diabetes, Parkinson's, paralysis, and so many other diseases and injuries. Over the past few months, we've seen some amazing new discoveries from adult stem cells and others from embryonic stem cells.

Some have claimed that the recent discoveries using induced pluripotent cells means that we no longer need to continue embryonic stem cell research. I disagree and so does the scientific community.

When we develop new tools, we don't throw out the old ones. Why should it be different when it comes to medical research? We need to support cell-based research in all types of venues. We need to find out what will not just be best for scientific advances but what will help with medical advances as well.

It's time that we develop a new framework for considering all forms of ethical stem cell research. We need to continue embryonic stem cell research as well as all other ethical forms of regenerative medicine research. And we need to have a central mechanism for ethics control over all of this research.

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