DeGette Statement on Stem Cell Ruling

Statement

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-1), Congress's leading voice on ethical embryonic stem cell (ESC) research issued the following statement in response to a U.S. Court of Appeals decision in Sherley v. Sebelius to vacate the preliminary injunction halting federal funding for ethical ESC research. In a 2-1 decision, the Court ruled that plaintiffs seeking to ban the use of federal funds were unlikely to succeed on the merits of their case.

"With today's ruling the Appeals Court has offered a measure of stability and continuity to the scores of researchers across America who have been whiplashed by this court case. Not only did the Court recognize the life-saving potential of this research, but in determining that the plaintiffs were unlikely to succeed on the merits of their argument they upheld over a decade's worth of work and literature establishing the acceptability of federal funding for ethical embryonic stem cell research.

"While I am extremely pleased with this decision, I will continue my efforts to pass legislation codifying federal funding for this vital research. Embryonic stem cells hold too much promise for too many Americans for us to leave their funding up to the political gamesmanship of Washington. We have already lost valuable time that we could have spent helping find treatments and cures of millions of Americans, and it is time to act swiftly to ensure uninterrupted federal support."

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