[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 7 (Wednesday, February 2, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E60-E61]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


STEM CELLS MAY BE THE KEY TO CURING PARKINSON'S AND MANY OTHER DISEASES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 2, 2000

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a 
resolution to allow Federal Funding of human pluripotent stem cell 
research to help us further understand Parkinson's disease and other 
medical conditions. I am asking for no specific amount of money, nor to 
direct disease-specific research. I am only asking that Federal money 
be allowed to be used to utilize the next best chance science has, to 
not only treat, but to cure, debilitating and life threatening 
illnesses that afflict millions of Americans.
  Many people have been confusing human pluripotent stem cell research 
with human embryo research. Stem cells are not embryos. There is a ban 
on the use of Federal funds for human embryo research in the United 
States. Stem cells cannot develop into a complete human being, and 
therefore, under the law, they are not embryos.
  Stem cells are a type of cell that can be turned into almost any type 
of cell or tissue in the body. With further research, these cells may 
be used as ``replacement'' cells and tissues to treat many diseases 
including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, AIDS, Lou 
Gehrig's disease and others. Stem cell research holds hope of one day 
being able to treat brain injury, spinal cord injury, and stroke for 
which there is currently no treatment available. And they may solve the 
problem of the body's reaction to foreign tissue, resulting in dramatic 
improvements in the treatment of a number of life-threatening 
conditions, such as burns and kidney failure, for which transplantation 
is currently used.
  The resolution discusses Parkinson's disease in particular for many 
reasons. My family has been personally affected by this devastating 
illness and I am proud to serve as co-chair of the Congressional 
Working Group on Parkinson's Disease. However, it is science that makes 
the best argument to lead with this disease. With all that is already 
known about Parkinson's disease, it is believed that with Federal funds 
and stem cell research it is very possible that Parkinson's disease 
could not only be treatable, but curable within as little as five 
years!
  Dr. Gerald D. Fischback, the Director of National Institute of 
Neurological Disorders and Stroke, in testimony last year to the Senate 
said, ``I concur that we are close to solving--and I mean the word 
`solving'--Parkinson's Disease. I hesitate to put an actual year number 
on it. I think, with all the intensive effort, with a little bit of 
skill and luck, five to ten years is not unrealistic. We will do 
everything possible to reduce that below five years. I would not rule 
that out.''
  Mr. Speaker, here is why that is possible. Parkinson's disease is a 
progressive degenerative brain disease which kills a specialized and 
vital type of brain cell, a cell which produces the substance dopamine, 
that is essential for normal movement and balance. The loss of these 
dopamine-producing cells causes symptoms, including slowness and 
paucity of movement, tremor, stiffness, and difficulty walking and 
balancing, which makes the sufferer unable to carry out the normal 
activities of daily living. In 30% of the cases those symptoms include 
dementia. As the disease progresses, it inflicts horrific physical, 
emotional, and financial burdens on the patient and family, requiring 
the caregiver to assist in the activities of daily living, and may 
eventually lead to placement in a nursing home until death.
  With further research into stem cells, scientists will be able to 
``reprogram'' the stem

[[Page E61]]

cells into the dopamine-producing cells which are lost in Parkinson's 
disease.
  Parkinson's disease affects at least one million Americans. Fifty-
thousand are diagnosed each year and for every one diagnosed, two who 
have Parkinson's disease are not diagnosed. It is alarming to think 
that two million Americans with Parkinson's disease are undiagnosed.
  Parkinson's disease costs the Federal Government approximately $10 
billion in healthcare costs, and on average, the cost per patient is 
$5,000 per year. As a society, we spend $15 billion a year on 
Parkinson's disease and that is only in direct costs for treatments 
that only bring temporary relief.
  Building on the technology developed from research on Parkinson's 
disease makes treatments and even cures possible for many conditions. 
These include Alzheimer's, diabetes, AIDS, Lou Gehrig's, brain injury, 
spinal cord injury, stroke, and problems with the body's reaction to 
foreign tissue. It may even provide for safer and more effective ways 
to test drugs without experimenting on humans and animals. We cannot 
allow the opportunities afforded us by stem cell research to go 
untapped!
  The National Institutes of Health has proposed guidelines to human 
stem cell research to address the legal and ethical issues surrounding 
this particular type of research. It is being approached in a 
responsible way to utilize the technology while being sensitive to the 
ethical questions raised. The National Bioethics Advisory Commission 
(NBAC) even felt they could have gone further and is very supportive of 
allowing this type of research to continue with Federal funding. The 
NBAC points out that Federally funding this research will allow Federal 
oversight to ensure this type of research continues ethically. And 
finally, the American people support stem cell research as shown by a 
nationwide survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation 
International last year that found that 74% of those polled favored 
funding of stem cell research by NIH.
  Federal funds are crucial to allow scientists to proceed with stem 
cell research and to exploit fully this novel, innovative, and ground-
breaking technology.

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