[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 96 (Wednesday, July 11, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H3873]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           STEM CELL RESEARCH

  (Mrs. MORELLA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to voice my support for stem cell 
research under the strict NIH guidelines. I want to thank the Members 
on both sides of the aisle who have joined with me, both pro choice and 
pro life, in support of this important research.
  This is not a political issue, it is not a partisan issue, it is a 
medical issue and it is a human issue. It is, for some, a life and 
death issue. It affects our seniors, women and men; and it affects our 
children. It goes without saying that the children of this country 
deserve the best medical research that one can find.
  I speak of the children with juvenile diabetes, known as the silent 
killer. More than 1 million Americans have Type 1, which is the 
juvenile diabetes, a disease that strikes children suddenly, makes them 
insulin dependent for life, and carries the constant threat of 
devastating complications. Someone is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 
every hour. It can and does strike adults as well.
  In diabetes research, it is hoped that stem cells can be 
differentiated into insulin-producing islet cells. In essence, this 
would be a cure. There are children fighting cancer, and stem cell 
research offers them hope. Stem cell research will no doubt, in one way 
or another, touch all Americans. We cannot, we must not shut that door.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge President Bush to keep the NIH guidelines in 
place.

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