[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 110 (Wednesday, September 15, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H7222-H7224]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SCIENCE POLICY/STEM CELL RESEARCH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Cole). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, a number of my colleagues have 
already spoken on, I think, a very important initiative or series of 
initiatives that require, unfortunately, the attention of this Congress 
and certainly the attention of many of our committees and particularly 
the one I serve on, the House Committee on Science.
  I believe that the administration's science policy is adrift. We have 
not focused on the important needs of this Nation as relate to issues 
dealing with nanotechnology and basic research, environmental issues, 
and, of course, stem cell research, space exploration, and the 
International Space Station.
  I rise in the backdrop of some 2 years since the tragedy of Columbia 
VII with so many of our brilliant scientists that flew into space with 
great hopes and aspirations to be able to press for space exploration, 
to be able to enhance a better quality of life for those of us who live 
on earth.
  Space exploration has found, in many instances, ways to create a 
better life for human beings. It was the beginning of the understanding 
of the human genome. It certainly has been at the backbone of research 
dealing with cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, heart conditions, stroke and 
aging. So we know there is value in exploring space. Other 
technological advances have been the beneficiary of that, yet I do not 
think we have done enough on Admiral Gehman's report on the issue of 
safety. I do not believe we have yet to complete, legislatively, the 
instructions that Admiral Gehman gave to us. The administration has 
been slow in acting.
  I, for many months now, have been asking for a full and complete 
hearing on the questions of safety on the International Space Station. 
Just recently, we determined there was a leakage that had to be fixed 
by the only two remaining astronauts on the International Space 
Station. We have yet to create a vehicle that can allow additional 
travel for additional astronauts to go back and forth to enhance the 
safety of the International Space Station by repairing some of the 
problems with that space station.
  Mr. Speaker, I call on my colleagues on the House Committee on 
Science to move forward on a hearing now on the safety questions of the 
International Space Station and begin again hearings to hear from NASA 
as to its implementation or its proposals for ensuring that human space 
shuttles fly again. These matters have not been attended to, and it 
puts us very far behind the work we should be doing in science.
  I also note for those who have been following the discussion dealing 
with the stem cell research that, in the United States, millions of 
people are suffering needlessly. They are suffering because the 
administration is putting aside a century-long commitment to investing 
in and making use of good science in order to better the lives of the 
American people.
  Furthermore, I am sorry to say that this Congress has been derelict 
in its duty to critically oversee the administration and to push 
creative and thoughtful legislation that will keep this Nation moving 
forward.
  We discovered a few weeks ago articles reporting on the decrease, the 
dumbing down of dollars going into our research laboratories and our 
other research facilities such that professors and those who are 
graduating this year with the expertise of research, who can be part of 
new discoveries for the 21st century, are wondering whether they will 
have positions in research institutions around the Nation, whether or 
not there are enough Federal dollars to create opportunities for 
research. We would be certainly remiss if we did not fight for and seek 
to increase those dollars to keep from losing that talent.
  We are finding now that international students, likewise, are finding 
their way to research labs elsewhere rather than coming to the United 
States and providing us the opportunity of being first in line with 
outstanding research that will again increase our quality of life. It 
was at the beginning of the new computer age, the Internet, the Web, 
all of that created by new bright minds, some of those in military 
research facilities, with dollars that were provided from our Federal 
Government.
  As of this week, more than 5,000 scientists have signed on to a 
statement produced by the Union of Concerned Scientists accusing the 
administration of misusing and fully abusing scientific methodology. 
Signers include 48 Nobel laureates, 62 National Medal of Science 
recipients, and 127 members of the National Academy of Sciences. A 
number of these scientists have served in multiple administrations, 
both Democratic

[[Page H7223]]

and Republican, underscoring the unprecedented nature of this 
administration's practices in demonstrating that the issues of 
scientific integrity transcend partisan politics.

  We will speak to that as we continue throughout the remaining time of 
this Congress, that people are suffering needlessly because we have 
limited our research in stem cell research. Approximately 25 million 
people are living with diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, 
Lupus, and other degenerative diseases. That is nearly 10 percent of 
our entire population. Over the course of decades, treating and caring 
for this Nation's sick will come at an incredible financial cost to 
taxpayers, families, and the U.S. health care system. In fact, 
Alzheimer's is the third most expensive disease to treat in America. 
The human cost is incalculable.
  Stem cell research offers the promise of one day finding significant 
treatment and perhaps even cures for these diseases. If given the 
opportunity by our Federal Government, our scientists and researchers 
could potentially unlock the secret to reversing the horrible effects 
of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Lou Gehrig's disease, Lupus, and many 
others. In the longer term, stem cell therapies may help spinal cord 
injury patients benefit from an even limited restoration of lost 
functions, such as gaining partial use of a limb instead of none or 
restoring bladder control or being free from pain. This could mean a 
world of difference to millions of affected individuals.
  Tragically, this administration would rather forego the preservation 
and improvement of life for political gains. On August 9, 2001, the 
administration announced restrictions on Federal funding for stem cell 
research and immediately froze progress on a valuable branch of 
scientific research. The President claims his opposition to expanded 
funding comes from his unwillingness to cross a strict moral line. When 
he cuts funding for prenatal and perinatal care, when he pursues a 
violent and expensive foreign policy, the strict moral line becomes 
blurred.
  The President's Federal policy was already outdated the day it came 
out. He limited Federal funding for research using one of 78 cell lines 
available on August 9, 2001. Unfortunately, since then, it has been 
discovered that only 19 of those lines are actually functional, and of 
those 19, many are of diminished quality and value. Why spend any money 
at all to do second-quality research with thirdhand tools?
  The President's policy is resulting in a reverse brain drain. Instead 
of working on outdated stem cell lines in U.S. labs, many of our 
brightest scientists are conducting research in the United Kingdom 
where the government fully funds stem cell research. When progress 
occurs in British labs, it will be British patients who will be the 
first beneficiaries of these new techniques.
  Many argue that the Bush policy does nothing to inhibit advances in 
stem cell research. I beg to differ. The problem is that, as richer 
states and institutions advance the science of stem cell biology, it 
will be our institutions that will suffer.
  Mr. Speaker, let me close by simply saying that even the former First 
Lady Nancy Reagan has begged us to find cures so that we can prevent 
the ravages of these unchecked diseases, such as Alzheimer's. I would 
only hope that the Committee on Science, lead by the Republicans and 
joined by the Democrats, will do its work before this Congress ends; 
that we will find ways to ensure the safety of space exploration in the 
International Space Station; and that we will find ways to do the right 
kind of research for stem cell research.
  Mr. Speaker, I am here today with two of my colleagues from the 
Science Committee. We are concerned about the record of this 
administration, as it pertains to science. Their record has shown a 
blatant tendency to favor ideology over peer reviewed science. Research 
under the administration is drifting. There also has been a cavalier 
disregard for any possible assistance to U.S. industry that would match 
the subsidies and support offered by foreign governments to industries 
abroad. This ideological approach to science has put us at a serious 
competitive disadvantage.
  In the United States millions of people are suffering needlessly. 
They are suffering because the administration is putting aside a 
century-long commitment to investing in, and making use of, good 
science in order to better the lives of the American people. 
Furthermore, I am sorry to say that this Congress has been derelict in 
its duty to critically oversee the administration, and to push creative 
and thoughtful legislation that will keep this Nation moving forward.
  As of this week, more than 5,000 scientists have signed onto a 
statement produced by the Union of Concerned Scientist, accusing the 
Bush administration of misusing and fully abusing scientific 
methodology. Signers include 48 Nobel laureates, 62 National Medal of 
Science recipients, and 127 members of the National Academy of 
Sciences. A number of these scientists have served in multiple 
administrations, both Democratic and Republican, underscoring the 
unprecedented nature of this administration's practices and 
demonstrating that the issues of scientific integrity transcend 
partisan politics.
  This afternoon a handful of Democratic members of the Science 
Committee will highlight some of the glaring areas where this 
administration and the congressional leadership are not properly using 
science to serve the American people.
  As I said, people are suffering needlessly. Approximately 25 million 
people are living with diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, 
Lupus, and other degenerative diseases. That's nearly 10 percent or our 
entire population. Over the course of decades, treating and caring for 
this Nation's sick will come at an incredible financial cost to 
families, taxpayers, and the U.S. health care system. In fact, 
Alzheimer's is the third most expensive disease to treat in American. 
The human cost is incalculable.
  Stem cell research offers the promise of one day finding significant 
treatment and perhaps even cures for these diseases. If given the 
opportunity by our Federal Government, our scientists and researchers 
could potentially unlock the secret to reversing the horrible effects 
of Alzheimer's Parkinson's, diabetes, Lou Gehrig's disease, Lupus, and 
many others. In the longer term, stem cell therapies may help spinal 
cord injury patients benefit from an even limited restoration of lost 
functions--such as gaining partial use of a limb instead of none, or 
restoring bladder control, or being freed from pain. This could mean a 
world of difference to millions of affected individuals.
  Tragically, this administration would rather forego the preservation 
and improvement of life, for political gains. On August 9, 2001, 
President Bush announced restrictions on Federal funding for stem cell 
research, and immediately froze progress on a valuable branch of 
scientific research. The President claims that his opposition to 
expanded funding comes from his unwillingness to cross ``a strict moral 
line'' When he cuts funding for prenatal and perinatal care, when he 
pursues a violent and expensive foreign policy, the President's 
``strict'' line becomes more blurry.

  The President's Federal policy was already out-dated the day it came 
out. He limited Federal funding to research using one of 78 cell lines 
available on August 9, 2001. Unfortunately, since then it has been 
discovered that only 19 of those lines are actually functional. Of 
those 19, many are of diminished quality and value. Why spend any money 
at all to do second-quality research, with third-hand tools?
  The administration's policy is resulting in a reverse brain drain. 
Instead of working on outdated stem cell lines in U.S. labs, many of 
our brightest scientists are conducting research in the United Kingdom 
where the government fully funds stem cell research. When progress 
occurs in British labs, it will be British patients who will be the 
first to benefit from these new techniques.
  Many argue that the President's policy does nothing to inhibit 
advances in stem cell research since privately funded scientists can 
work at will. The problem is that as richer States and institutions 
advance the science of stem cell biology, it will be those institutions 
and communities that will benefit from an increase in jobs, the boost 
to the local economy, and increased access to cutting edge medical 
treatments. Under this scenario, critical patents will be held by a 
limited number of institutions, further impeding even privately funded 
research. This will only add to the growing health disparities between 
the rich and the poor, the urban and the rural, the haves and the have-
nots. Our Federal Government must seize this opportunity to counteract 
this effect that will have devastating impacts on patients, their 
families, and their friends.
  Former first lady Nancy Reagan saw the ravages of unchecked disease, 
as President Reagan waged his own personal decade-long battle with 
Alzheimer's. She is now adding her voice to the call for a more 
rational and progressive stem cell policy. She has stated, ``Science 
has presented us with a hope called stem cell research, which may 
provide our scientists with many answers that for so long have been 
beyond our grasp. I just don't see how we can turn our backs on this.''
  Mr. Speaker, the hope of which former First Lady Reagan spoke must be 
met, not only with optimism, but also with political will and decisive 
action. On April 28, more than 200 Members of the House of 
Representatives

[[Page H7224]]

sent a letter to the President urging him to expand Federal funding for 
stem cell research. On June 4, 58 Members of the Senate sent a similar 
letter urging that the President relax his restrictions on Federal 
funds and repeal his antiquated policy. We approached the President 
with the purpose of honest and healthy debate. The President has 
refused to hear our arguments. This is an issue that could bring 
Americans together to save lives. Instead, we are wasting time and 
taxpayer dollars, playing politics--debating divisive issues that are 
going nowhere.
  Now is the time to reverse the negative effects of the 
administration's policy. It is time to implement a policy that 
encourages science, creates jobs, expands health care, and saves lives. 
It is time for an expansion of Federal funding for stem cell research 
in America.

                          ____________________