[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 76 (Thursday, May 8, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E877-E878]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   STEM CELL SCIENCE: THE FOUNDATION OF FUTURE CURES HEARING IN THE 
        SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH, COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 8, 2008

  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I have been deeply involved in working to 
expand the Federal policy on stem cell research over the last several 
years with my friend Diana DeGette, and I am encouraged to see the 
House Energy and Commerce Committee hold its first hearing on the 
subject of stem cell policy and the foundation for future cures. I look 
forward to hearing from the expert witnesses testifying today, everyone 
from Dr. Elias Zerhouni, Director of the National Institutes of Health, 
leading scientists, Dr. George Daley of Children's Hospital Boston, and 
Dr. John Gearhart of Johns Hopkins University, and Weyman Johnson, Jr. 
who chairs the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, about the ever 
important field of regenerative medicine. There have been a couple of 
very exciting developments in the field recently, underscoring the 
critical role of the United States' scientific community and the need 
for even more coordinated Federal research.
  Announcements from scientists about removing single cells from 
embryos to develop embryonic stem cell lines, and using human skin 
cells in ways that offer similar promise as embryonic stem cells, 
underscores the importance of pursuing all avenues of science that 
could advance human health.
  The recent discoveries are significant, but we must remember that 
important scientific advances do not always translate to medical 
advances. It is for this reason that I believe, and scientists agree, 
it would be irresponsible to abandon embryonic stem cell research, 
which continues to show the most immediate promise.
  My passion for advancing and expanding research on stem cells comes 
from years of meeting with those who are suffering from diabetes, 
Alzheimer's, cancer, heart disease, Parkinson's and their loved ones--
and from the many scientists I have had met over the years who have 
hailed the promise of the pluripotency, that is the ability to become 
any cell in the body, of embryonic stem cells, and the breakthrough of 
induced pluripotent stem cells, iPS, which are believed to have the 
same qualities. There is no greater promise for better treatments and 
potential cures than there is with a strong Federal investment in 
ethical forms of medical research of all kinds. American scientists 
should be leading the world.
  iPS is a major scientific breakthrough, however many have said the 
viruses and genes used in the process to create the embryonic-like 
state of the human skin cells can cause cancer. If the cancer factor 
cannot be eliminated, and only further research will tell, iPS cells 
may be better suited for learning more about cancer, for example, or 
for improving pharmaceutical drugs. So, if it is the case that iPS 
cells might prove better for some uses and embryonic stem cells better 
for others, how could we abandon one for the other?

[[Page E878]]

  It is apparent that with the availability of new stem cell lines, the 
ability of medical researchers to alleviate the suffering of millions 
will be bolstered. The United States should support comprehensive stem 
cell research of all kinds, instead of tying the hands of researchers 
and asking patients with some of the most debilitating diseases to wait 
even longer. Federal policy must be updated to reflect science 
advancements.

  Moving forward, I believe we need to look for ways to strengthen the 
ethical framework which guides all forms of regenerative medicine. 
Policies should be in place to allow scientists to pursue fundamental 
science inquires. It will also be essential that Congress work with the 
National Institutes of Health to ensure that any change in policy can 
be implemented with ease. When Congress votes to expand the Federal 
policy or when the next Administration changes the policy, which I am 
confident will happen, we must have the capacity to move forward 
quickly to expand the Stem Cell Registry to include the many lines 
derived post August 9, 2001, and to supply new Federal grants.
  We simply must pursue all avenues of science that show promise for 
advancing human health--and the role of the Federal Government in 
carrying this out is paramount. For more than a century, the National 
Institutes of Health has promoted cooperation among the scientists who 
receive Federal research dollars, and has made knowledge sharing a 
priority. While state-funded stem cell initiatives are important, 
without the support of Federal Government there remains a void.
  In just 10 short years since Dr. James Thompson announced the first 
embryonic stem cell line, we have made great strides. Without the 
Federal funding restriction, who knows where we would be today. Nearly 
three-quarters of Americans from all walks of life support embryonic 
stem cell research, as does the majority in Congress who support 
expanding the Federal stem cell policy to allow for funding and 
oversight of embryonic stem cell research and who voted for the Stem 
Cell Research Enhancement Act, which with great disappointment was 
vetoed twice by President Bush.
  I cannot stress enough the promise of stem cell research of all kinds 
for alleviating the suffering of the 100 million American patients and 
so many more around the globe who are living with devastating diseases 
for which there are no good treatments and for which there is no cure. 
As Dr. Elias Zerhouni, Director of the National Institutes of Health, 
stated in Senate testimony in March 2007: ``It is clear today that 
American science will be better served and the nation would be better 
served if we let our scientists have access to more cell lines.'' We 
must work to remove the barriers to Federal funding for embryonic stem 
cell research.

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