[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 99 (Tuesday, July 25, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1521]
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. PATRICK J. KENNEDY

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 19, 2006

  Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
extreme disappointment with the President's decision to use his veto 
power to reject the Congress's will to see H.R. 810, the Stem Cell 
Research Enhancement Act, become public law, and I stand in support of 
millions of Americans who will benefit from the promises of embryonic 
stem cell research. Each year, I meet several hundred, perhaps 
thousands, of constituents who share with me how Federal support of 
embryonic stem cell research could vastly change their lives. There are 
a few constituents in particular who stand out on this issue. Late last 
year, Maddie and Tommy Poulin, just 4 and 5 years old, traveled from 
Rhode Island to Washington. These two young children talked with me 
about what their life is like with Type I Diabetes. In a journal they 
left with me, Maddie included an entry that said, ``I really hope you 
can help us find a cure, we're not asking for a lot, we just want to 
live without needles.''
  Stem cell research also holds promise for those suffering from 
Parkinson's disease, like my good friend, and the distinguished Senator 
from Rhode Island, Claiborne Pell. Senator Pell's contributions to our 
country are too numerous to list, but I know his legacy is honored 
everyday when individuals are able to attend college with the 
assistance of a Pell Grant. He stood up for those without a voice for 
over 35 years, and now it is time for us to stand up for him.
  Sue Sgambato, a cancer survivor living in Rhode Island, visits my 
office regularly to advocate on behalf of patients in our State. Rhode 
Island has one of the highest rates of cancer in the Nation, and stem 
cell research may provide clues on how to beat this devastating 
disease. I cannot and will not stand by and let one more person be 
diagnosed with cancer, Alzheimer's, Lou Gehrig's disease, or multiple 
sclerosis without holding the President responsible for his action 
today.
  It is absolutely tragic that President Bush has used his very first 
and only veto on an issue of such importance to American families. 
Every family in America has a loved one who is suffering from a disease 
that could benefit from the advances of stem cell research. This veto 
is only the latest action that President Bush has taken against medical 
research. He has also level funded the National Institutes of Health, 
and cut programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC), limiting our Nation's ability to find better treatments and 
cures for diseases.
  President Bush had a choice today, and he chose politics over people. 
I want to assure my friends in Congress, as well as the people of the 
First District of Rhode Island, that today's veto is not the end to 
this debate, it is only the beginning. Congress has voted 
overwhelmingly in support of stem cell research, and this bill remains 
a top priority for a majority of elected officials. I promise that I 
will continue to do everything within my power to get this legislation 
back to the President's desk, and to get this language into our public 
law. We will be back, and we will succeed.

                          ____________________