[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 20, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8060-S8061]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 REPORT OF THE VETO OF S. 5, THE STEM CELL RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 
                              2007--PM 18

  The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message 
from the President of the United States, together with an accompanying 
report; which was ordered to be held at the desk:

To the Senate of the United States:
  I am returning herewith without my approval S. 5, the ``Stem Cell 
Research Enhancement Act of 2007.''
  Once again, the Congress has sent me legislation that would compel 
American taxpayers, for the first time in our history, to support the 
deliberate destruction of human embryos.
  In 2001, I announced a policy to advance stem cell research in a way 
that is ambitious, ethical, and effective. I became the first President 
to make Federal funds available for embryonic stem cell research, and 
my policy did this in ways that would not encourage the destruction of 
embryos. Since then, my Administration has made more than $130 million 
available for research on stem cell lines derived from embryos that had 
already been destroyed. We have also provided more than $3 billion for 
research on all forms of stem cells, including those from adult and 
other non-embryonic sources.
  This careful approach is producing results. It has contributed to 
proven therapeutic treatments in thousands of patients with many 
different diseases. And it is opening the prospect of new discoveries 
that could transform lives. Researchers are now developing promising 
new techniques that offer the potential to produce pluripotent stem 
cells, without having to destroy human life--for example, by 
reprogramming adult cells to make them function like stem cells.
  Technical innovation in this difficult area is opening up new 
possibilities for progress without conflict or ethical controversy. 
Researchers pursuing these kinds of ethically responsible advances 
deserve support, and there is legislation in the Congress to give them 
that support. Bills supporting alternative research methods achieved 
majority support last year in both the House and the Senate. Earlier 
this spring another bill supporting alternative research won 
overwhelming majority support in the Senate, and I call on House 
leaders to pass similar legislation that would authorize additional 
funds for ethical stem cell research. We cannot lose the opportunity to 
conduct research that would give hope to those suffering from terrible 
diseases and help move our Nation beyond the controversies over embryo 
destruction. I invite policymakers and scientists to come together to 
solve medical problems without compromising either the high aims of 
science or the sanctity of human life.
  S. 5, like the bill I vetoed last year, would overturn today's 
carefully balanced policy on stem cell research.

[[Page S8061]]

Compelling American taxpayers to support the deliberate destruction of 
human embryos would be a grave mistake. I will not allow our Nation to 
cross this moral line. For that reason, I must veto this bill.
                                                      George W. Bush.  
The White House, June 20, 2007.

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