[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 69 (Monday, May 23, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H3749]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SUPPORT EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, critics of embryonic cell stem research 
maintain it is wrong to promote science which destroys life in order to 
save life. As the leading prolife legislator in Washington, Senator 
Orrin Hatch put it, ``Since when does life begin in a petri dish in a 
refrigerator?''
  To reduce this issue to an abortion issue is a horrible insult to 100 
million Americans suffering the ravages of diabetes, spinal cord 
paralysis, heart disease, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, multiple 
sclerosis and Lou Gehrig's disease.
  I have met with medical researchers from the University of Minnesota 
Stem Cell Institute, the National Institutes of Health, the Mayo 
Clinic, and Johns Hopkins University. As one prominent researcher told 
me, ``The real irony of the President's policy is that at least 100,000 
surplus frozen embryos could be used to produce stem cells for research 
to save lives. Instead, these surplus embryos are being thrown into the 
garbage and treated as medical waste.''
  Only 22 of the 78 stem cell lines approved by the President in 2001 
remain today. This limit on research has stunted progress on finding 
cures for a number of debilitating and fatal diseases, according to 
scientists and patient advocacy groups across America.
  Mr. Speaker, the scientific evidence is overwhelming that embryonic 
stem cells have great potential to regenerate specific types of human 
tissues, offering hope for millions of Americans suffering from 
debilitating, fatal and cruel diseases.
  Mr. Speaker, it is too late for my beloved mother who was totally 
debilitated by Alzheimer's disease, which led to her death. It is too 
late for President Reagan who suffered a similar fate. It is too late 
for my cousin, Joey, who died a cruel death in his 20s from diabetes, 
but it is not too late for the 100 million other American people 
counting on this House to support funding for life-saving research on 
stem cells derived from donated, surplus embryos created through in 
vitro fertilization.
  Let us not turn our backs on these people and take away their hope. 
Let us listen to respected colleagues and friends like Senator Orrin 
Hatch, Senator Connie Mack, and former HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, 
all prolife people, all who tell us this is not an abortion issue. Let 
us make it clear that abortion politics should not determine this 
critical vote. Embryonic stem cell research will prolong life, improve 
life, and give hope for life to millions of people.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support funding for life-saving and 
life-enhancing embryonic stem cell research. The American people 
deserve nothing less.

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