[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 16, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4572-S4573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               STEM CELLS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, let me also talk about one other important 
issue; that is, the American people are not only counting on us to 
finish the immigration bill--which we need to do--but they are also 
counting on us to finish the stem cells bill.
  Today, in the New York Times there is a letter from Nancy Reagan to 
Senator Hatch in which she writes:

       For those who are waiting every day for scientific progress 
     to help their loved ones, the wait for the U.S. Senate action 
     has been very difficult and very hard to comprehend.

  Yes, it really has.
  Last Thursday, the Republican leadership concluded the only week they

[[Page S4573]]

intend to devote to health care in this Congress. I was disappointed 
that--despite his repeated promises to allow the Senate to consider the 
House-passed stem cells bill--Senator Frist didn't consider this issue 
important enough to bring to the floor and that parliamentary tactics 
were used to deny our efforts to bring this forward.
  On May 10, prior to the conclusion of Health Week, my friend, the 
distinguished majority leader, Dr. Frist, stated:

       The issue of stem cells is a very important issue. . . .I 
     am very committed to addressing that particular issue. . . 
     .The interest in stem cells will be debated in the future, at 
     a time that is mutually set by the Democratic leadership 
     working with the Republican leadership.

  The one-year anniversary of the date the House of Representatives 
passed H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, is May 24, 
exactly 1 week from tomorrow.
  The bill would offer hope to millions of Americans and their 
families. Why are we waiting so long to simply vote?
  If the distinguished majority leader agreed that this is ``a very 
important issue,'' then I hope he will keep this issue moving forward 
and vote on it immediately and schedule a vote on the House-passed 
bill.

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