[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 81 (Friday, June 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1268]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   STEM CELL RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT ACT

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                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 17, 2005

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. I am proud 
to be a cosponsor of this important legislation, which expands stem 
cell research and ensures that the Federal Government can implement 
ethical guidelines. This bill will provide hope and opportunity for 
millions of Americans suffering from chronic and life threatening 
health conditions. This legislation will also ensure that the Federal 
Government can implement ethical guidelines over this research.
  On August 9, 2001, President Bush announced that for the first time, 
Federal funds would be used to support research on human embryonic stem 
cells, but funding was to be limited to ``existing stem cell lines 
where the life and death decision has already been made.'' Prior to 
this decision, no Federal funds had been used to support research on 
stem cells derived from either embryos or fetal tissue. Previous 
experiments involving stem cells were conducted privately, with no 
ovesight or public input.
  I believe that the expansion of funding to stem cell research is an 
effective way of moving this science forward. Stem cells offer 
remarkable potential contributions to medical science and improve the 
lives of millions of people who suffer from incurable diseases such as 
juvenile diabetes, Alzheimers's, Parkinson's, AIDS, and spinal cord 
injuries. It may also help us to understand abnormal cell growth that 
occurs in cancer and birth defects and change the way we develop drugs 
and test them for safety and potential efficacy.
  Former First Lady Nancy Reagan and 69 percent of Americans are in 
favor of the expansion of stem cell research. This effort is supported 
by over 200 patient groups, universities, and scientific societies, and 
has been endorsed by more than 75 national and local newspapers and 
eighty Nobel Laureates.
  It is imperative that we support efforts to improve the quality of 
life. I am pleased that we have the opportunity to move this important 
bill forward today, and it is my hope that the Senate will do the same. 
Unfortunately, the President has indicated that he will veto efforts to 
expand stem cell research--even H.R. 810 which only proposes to allow 
stem cell research on discarded embryos with the donor's consent. In 
this case, the President is clearly choosing radical ideology over 
American lives.

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