[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 96 (Thursday, July 20, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1469-E1470]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   STEM CELL RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2005--VETO MESSAGE FROM THE 
          PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (H. DOC. NO. 109-127)

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 19, 2006

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I stand today in strong support of a 
veto override for H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. It 
is clear that a majority of Americans and a bipartisan majority in 
Congress strongly support embryonic stem cell research because it could 
prove to be critical for some 128 million Americans who suffer from 
juvenile diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, cancer, heart disease, 
spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, and other diseases.
  Stem cell research is essential for the future of medicine in 
America; one that should be allowed to transcend political lines so 
that critical gains can be made to save millions of human lives. One 
such life is that of my constituent, 24-year-old Bishoy Abo-Saif. In 
his letter to me, Bishoy described his daily struggle with cerebral 
palsy. He has been to Canada, the United Kingdom, Hungary, Poland and 
the Ukraine looking for alternative therapies for his disease. Nothing 
has worked. Even though he has accomplished academic goals, he still 
feels he is on the sidelines. As he stated to me, ``the wheelchair is 
always in the way.'' However, he said that, ``stem cell treatment is 
the only hope to overcome his condition.''
  Most scientists agree that embryonic stem cell research offers the 
greatest hope to people like Bishoy. America has always been on the 
cutting edge of new innovation and now we stand on the brink of 
groundbreaking medical advancements that would dramatically alter the 
lives of people such as Bishoy. We must not prohibit this promising 
research.
  But the opponents of this measure have put forward disingenuous 
arguments that fly in the face of widely accepted scientific research 
and proven potential. They wrongly portray the decision on funding for 
additional stem cell research as a choice between one life or another. 
In fact, we are choosing between disposing of embryonic stem cells or 
using those cells to save countless lives and advance life-saving 
science in previously unrealized ways. It is incomprehensible that 
anyone would allow politics and personal preference to trump hard facts 
and science. And, like the overwhelming majority of Americans, I am 
deeply disappointed and dismayed over President Bush's decision to 
issue his first veto on this bill, dashing the hopes so many families 
who are battling critical illnesses have pinned on the promising 
potential of stem cell research.
  President Bush acted to snuff out the hopes of millions of Americans 
only to please a small right-wing constituency which has politicized 
this medical issue. Once again, the Bush administration has put 
politics before science sadly taking hope and health away from 
countless families. We should not delay or deny the potentially 
lifesaving research offered by stem cell technology. Bishoy and 
millions of other Americans are counting on us. As Bishoy stated in his 
letter, ``our hopes and

[[Page E1470]]

dreams are in your hands, please do not shatter them. Allow me and 
others to regain what we have lost.''
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the veto override to H.R. 
810.

                                               Park Ridge, IL,

                                                    July 17, 2006.
       Dear Congresswoman Schakowsky: My name is Bishoy Abo-Saif. 
     I am 24 years old. Currently I am studying for my Master's 
     degree in Social Work, at Dominican University, in River 
     Forest, Illinois. However, I feel that I live in two 
     completely different worlds. These two worlds could not be 
     further apart. Since birth I have had severe physical 
     limitations caused by a condition called Cerebral Palsy. I am 
     one of the lucky few who is not affected cognitively by this 
     devastating condition.
       I am writing to you today to implore you to support H.R. 
     810, for this piece of legislation is vital to millions of 
     people who are afflicted with my condition and other 
     neurological disorders. Since I was diagnosed, at 9 months of 
     age, my parents' mission was to help me lead a normal life. 
     Unfortunately, the many doctors we visited painted a very 
     bleak picture. A picture, which had no light at the end of 
     the tunnel. One doctor after the other kept telling my 
     parents that I would never walk. Cerebral Palsy is a 
     condition that affects people in different ways. It ranges 
     from severe to mild. Despite the years spent in physical and 
     occupational therapies, the progress is always minimal at 
     best, much to the dismay of the patients and their families.
       In our efforts to beat the odds, we kept looking for 
     alternative treatments outside the U.S. We went to Canada, 
     the United Kingdom, Hungary, Poland and Ukraine. The success 
     of these treatments was very limited. Many were not covered 
     by our insurance and the trips were arduous.
       To this end, H.R. 810 holds the key to unlock the chains 
     that trap me and others in my condition from experiencing 
     life as it should be experienced. Ever since I was a child, I 
     could not experience activities which other children take for 
     granted. I never knew how it feels like to run or jump, or 
     hit a ball.
       Even now despite the fact that I have accomplished academic 
     goals, I still feel that I am on the sidelines, so to speak. 
     The wheelchair is always in the way.
       Stem Cell treatment is the only hope to overcome this 
     condition. Doctors have made great strides with animal 
     experiments in the lab. It has been proven that Stem Cells 
     have the ability to regenerate the damaged cells in the 
     brain.
       Stem Cell treatment is the catalyst for great progress in 
     the field of medicine. It is the answer to many unsolved 
     medical conditions. This Congress has the opportunity to make 
     history by voting for H.R. 810, which will make a real 
     tangible difference in the lives of the millions for whom 
     Stem Cell treatment is the only answer. People will be able 
     to takes steps, regain function of their legs, hands, and 
     affected parts of the brain will regenerate. People will 
     become whole. Our hopes and dreams are in your hands; please 
     do not shatter them. Allow me and others to regain what we 
     have lost.
       H.R. 810 is an imperative piece of legislation which will 
     change my life and the lives of millions of other people like 
     me.
       Thank you.
           Yours truly,
     Bishoy Abo-Saif.

                          ____________________