[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 44 (Thursday, March 12, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S3063]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH

  Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I rise today to express my strong 
support of expanded embryonic stem cell research and to thank President 
Obama for reversing the Federal limitations imposed on stem cell 
research by the previous administration. I also thank my colleagues 
Senators Harkin, Specter, Feinstein, Hatch, and Reid, for their ongoing 
leadership on this issue.
  Research on human embryonic stem cells began in 1998 and is still 
only in its infancy. In this short time, researchers have made great 
strides in stem cell research, discovering the scientific potential of 
embryonic stem cells and their ability to treat and cure diseases that 
affect patients and families across our country. Unfortunately, 
however, the true potential of embryonic stem cell research has not yet 
been realized. For the past 8 years, Federal funding has been limited 
to the study of embryonic stem cell lines derived before August 9, 
2001, significantly hampering the ability of researchers to effectively 
study the full potential of these cells. Political issues, funding 
considerations, and the limited pipeline of talented researchers 
specializing in this new field have slowed the development of a robust 
research community focused on stem cell investigation.
  Stem cells could be a boon to medical research and treatment in a 
variety of ways: as replacement cells for those cells that have been 
lost or destroyed because of disease; as tools for studying early 
events in human development; as test systems for new drug therapies; 
and as vehicles to deliver genes that could correct defects. The more 
that is learned about embryonic stem cells, the better scientists can 
assess their full therapeutic potential and that of other stem cell 
types.
  This research is so critical to the scientific understanding of 
diseases, therapies, and cures that impact millions of Americans. 
Embryonic stem cells could lead to treatments for diseases that afflict 
up to 100 million Americans, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's 
disease, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, spinal cord injuries, and so 
many other debilitating conditions.
  Now, I have always been a supporter of stem cell research and have 
long recognized the importance of this critical research to the 
scientific community. However, stem cell research became personal for 
me in 2007 when my oldest granddaughter Elle was diagnosed with 
diabetes. But my family is not alone in either struggling with the 
disease of juvenile diabetes or recognizing the importance of stem cell 
research to a potential cure for the disease. Mimi Silverman of 
Bedford, NH, speaks eloquently about what it is like to be the parent 
of a diabetic. Her daughter Abby, who is now 30, was diagnosed with 
diabetes at the age of 7. Mimi knows about the toll that diabetes takes 
on the entire family and she talks about the psychological effects on 
her family, not knowing what each day will bring. She describes the 
disease as a ticking timebomb in which there is always uncertainty and 
underlying apprehension.
  A few years ago, Abby, Mimi's daughter, was 2 weeks away from getting 
married. She was living alone in Minneapolis, 1,500 miles away from her 
fiance and her family. She was alone in her apartment and because of 
diabetes, she fell unconscious. Luckily, her fiance called. He realized 
that Abby was incoherent and he was able to contact the apartment 
manager to unlock the door and get her help. But had her fiance not 
called when he did, in all likelihood, Abby would not be alive today. 
Mimi is now a leading advocate in New Hampshire in support of stem cell 
research.
  Laura Clark, from Antrim, NH, is 25 years old. Five years ago she was 
in the final year of her nursing studies at the University of New 
Hampshire. Unfortunately, she was in a tragic car accident on the way 
to the movies. As a result of the collision, Laura's neck was crushed 
and after two weeks in intensive care and 11 weeks in rehabilitation, 
Laura recovered but is now quadriplegic. While her spirit is strong, 
her life has changed dramatically. The accident not only affected 
Laura, but of course her family was affected as well. Her mother Kathy 
quit her job to stay home to take care of Laura, and her younger 
sister, who was in high school at the time, was not able to go on to 
college. Laura doesn't give up the hope that some day, as a result of 
stem cell research, a scientist will discover a way to help her regain 
her independence.
  Stem cell research holds the potential to help Elle, to help Abby, 
and to help Laura, and so many others in New Hampshire and across this 
country. I thank President Obama for recognizing the importance of this 
issue and for providing an opportunity for us to reverse the stem cell 
policy that has slowed the pace of medical research and hindered the 
development of therapeutic treatments for medical conditions ranging 
from diabetes and spinal cord injuries to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. 
I now look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate and the 
new administration to ensure continued support of stem cell research. 
Through increased funding and ensuring that moral and ethical 
guidelines for research are established in this growing field, I am 
hopeful that the scientific community will continue with crucial stem 
cell innovations that will positively affect the lives of those three 
young women whom I talked about and so many people across this country.
  Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.

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