[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 23, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H3024]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STEM CELL RESEARCH: IT'S TIME FOR THE SENATE TO ACT

  (Mr. EMANUEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, today marks the one year anniversary of the 
House passage of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. By a vote of 
298-134, the House overwhelmingly approved the stem cell bill, which 
would expand the Federal Government's investment in vital promising 
research.
  Embryonic stem cells hold the key to the treatment of diseases like 
Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, ALS and many other currently incurable 
diseases. An overwhelming majority of Americans support this research.
  This is not a traditional Democrat versus Republican issue, it is 
about a right versus a wrong. Yet a year after House action, America is 
still waiting on the Senate.
  Two weeks ago, the Senate held its ``Health Week,'' a series of 
votes, but the Republican leadership refused to take a vote on stem 
cell research that would have saved lives in the area we are talking 
about. Health Week in the Senate will be known from now on as the 
``Hoax Week.''
  When the Senate majority leader refused to hold a vote, despite his 
past public support, the majority leader showed America his priorities, 
and I am afraid it has little to do with funding treatments for 
incurable diseases.
  Mr. Speaker, if the majority leader is as committed to stem cell 
research as he says, then it is time for an up or down vote on this 
important research that will save many lives, and then the Senate will 
earn the title ``Health Week'' back again.

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