[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 95 (Wednesday, July 19, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H5387]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1030
         EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH DESERVES FEDERAL FUNDING

  (Mr. CLAY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I rise to urge my colleagues to reject the 
cynical attempt to politicize a critical health care issue that offers 
hope to millions of Americans, embryonic stem cell research. Last year 
a bipartisan coalition in this House voted for hope, and we should not 
abandon that today.
  In my State almost 1 million people suffer from chronic diseases like 
diabetes, cancer, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, and spinal cord 
injuries, and I will not turn my back on them.
  Expanding Federal support for stem cell research is also vital to 
helping America maintain our leadership in medicine and the life 
sciences. And for minorities and lower-income Americans who suffer from 
higher rates of chronic diseases, embryonic stem cell research could 
unlock the secrets to closing the health care disparities gap.
  The American people support this research because they know that 
someone they love will be helped. We should not sacrifice that hope on 
the altar of partisan politics.

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