[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 25, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1096-E1097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               STEM CELL RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 25, 2005

  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support 
for H.R. 810--the Stem Cell Research and Enhancement Act.
  I want to make it clear that the type of scientific research some in 
this chamber are trying to prevent will occur. It is occurring as we 
speak--all around the world.
  However, we face a substantial threat that in this new field, with 
all of its promise and potential, America will be left behind. If our 
current political leadership continues to restrict research as other 
countries embrace it--we risk losing not only our research edge, but 
also our scientists. American scientists will pursue their research in 
places like Korea and Israel, and international scientists will no 
longer come to America as they have for generations . . . people like 
Einstein and Fermi, just to name two.
  Make no mistake--as a result of the restrictive policies of this 
Congress and the current Administration, many companies may not invest 
in this research here in America. However, American companies will make 
sure that they have a piece of this business by investing in foreign 
countries where the basic research has been performed, scientists have 
perfected the techniques, and the government is welcoming to their 
industry, not hostile to it. Private industry will look for a place to 
make these investments because the chance that this research could 
produce cures for many devastating diseases seems very good not only to 
scientists, but also to business leaders.
  It is simple: There is no question that this research will occur; 
there is no question that this research will result in scientific 
breakthroughs; there is no question that this science

[[Page E1097]]

will create jobs and wealth. The only question is, who will benefit. 
Will America lead the way as we have in all other scientific 
advancements? Will we be the pioneers and producers? Or, will we 
relegate ourselves to mere consumers who send our fortunes around the 
world?
  The question is whether America will continue to lead the world in 
scientific breakthroughs or take a backseat to other countries.
  We can already read articles in our daily newspapers that tell us of 
the commitments other countries have made to this research and the 
subsequent advancements they have made. Two years ago, China announced 
plans for the construction of a massive stem cell complex in Tianjin, 
which is scheduled for completion in 2010. One of their professors 
claimed, ``We are not that far behind [the West] anymore.'' We have 
come a long way from the shocking news eight years ago that researchers 
in Scotland cloned Dolly the Sheep to the promising news just last week 
that researchers in South Korea produced 11 new embryonic stem cell 
lines that were genetic matches to patients with devastating diseases 
and ailments. Increasingly we are reading about advances that occur in 
other places around the world. Some of these advances raise ethical 
concerns, but because they do not occur on our shores, we do not have a 
say over the ethical standards and considerations that accompany the 
research.
  I do not intend to imply that nothing is happening in America. To the 
contrary, many scientists, many of them in my own district, are working 
feverishly to find new cures for various diseases. I understand that 
some Americans object to embryonic stem cell research. However, many 
thoughtful, principled persons from all of our Nation's religious and 
ethical traditions support embryonic stem cell research. Self-anointed 
moralists should not jeopardize the health of our loved ones and the 
economic future of our country.
  We will not know for another decade just how far we have fallen 
behind the rest of the world. I am including for the record just a 
small list of scientific breakthroughs using these procedures that have 
been made in other countries. We have waited long enough to expand our 
Nation's restrictive policy. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting 
yes for H.R. 810.

                          Stem Cells--May 2005


                                  1997

       Scotland--An embryologist at the Roslin Institute in 
     Edinburgh created a lamb using DNA from adult sheep--known to 
     the world as Dolly the Sheep


                                  2002

       Singapore--Researchers grow human embryonic stems cells 
     without using animal cells to protect them.


                                  2003

       Japan and Scotland--Researchers identify a gene in 
     embryonic stem cells that allows them to regenerate and 
     develop into any kind of cell.


                                  2004

       Israel--Researchers develop human embryonic stem cells into 
     beating heart cells.
       Israel--Scientists coax embryonic stem cells to become 
     nerve cells that when transplanted into rats with symptoms of 
     Parkinson's alleviate some of the symptoms.
       Israel and Chicago--Teams from Israel and Chicago develop 
     disease-specific embryonic stems cell lines from embryos 
     carrying genetic disorder.
       South Korea--Researchers produce a human embryonic stem 
     cell line through somatic cell nuclear transfer.


                         2005 (just last week)

       South Korea--Scientists create stem cell lines that are 
     tailored to match the DNA of patients with medical 
     conditions, creating 11 new lines from patients with spinal 
     cord injuries and juvenile diabetes--putting the promise of 
     effective treatments within reach.

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