II 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2754 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 5, 2006 Mr. Santorum (for himself and Mr. Specter) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To derive human pluripotent stem cell lines using techniques that do not knowingly harm embryos.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act.

2.

Purposes

It is the purpose of this Act to— (1)intensify research that may result in improved understanding of or treatments for diseases and other adverse health conditions; and (2)promote the derivation of pluripotent stem cell lines, including from postnatal sources, without creating human embryos for research purposes or discarding, destroying, or knowingly harming a human embryo or fetus.

3.

Alternative human pluripotent stem cell research

Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 498C the following:

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Alternative human pluripotent stem cell research

(a)

In general

In accordance with section 492, the Secretary shall conduct and support basic and applied research to develop techniques for the isolation, derivation, production, or testing of stem cells that, like embryonic stem cells, are capable of producing all or almost all of the cell types of the developing body and may result in improved understanding of or treatments for diseases and other adverse health conditions, but are not derived from a human embryo. (b)

Guidelines

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary, after consultation with the Director, shall issue final guidelines to implement subsection (a), that— (1)provide guidance concerning the next steps required for additional research, which shall include a determination of the extent to which specific techniques may require additional basic or animal research to ensure that any research involving human cells using these techniques would clearly be consistent with the standards established under this section; (2)prioritize research with the greatest potential for near-term clinical benefit; and (3)consistent with subsection (a), take into account techniques outlined by the President's Council on Bioethics and any other appropriate techniques and research. (c)

Reporting requirements

Not later than January 1 of each year, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of the Congress a report describing the activities carried out under this section during the fiscal year, including a description of the research conducted under this section. (d)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect any policy, guideline, or regulation regarding embryonic stem cell research, human cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer, or any other research not specifically authorized by this section. (e)

Definition

(1)

In general

In this section, the term human embryo shall have the meaning given such term in the applicable appropriations Act. (2)

Applicable Act

For purposes of paragraph (1), the term applicable appropriations Act means, with respect to the fiscal year in which research is to be conducted or supported under this section, the Act making appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services for such fiscal year, except that if the Act for such fiscal year does not contain the term referred to in paragraph (1), the Act for the previous fiscal year shall be deemed to be the applicable appropriations Act. (f)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2009, to carry out this section.

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