[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 70 (Thursday, May 7, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1107-E1108]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SUPPORT FOR THE STEM CELL RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2009 IN HONOR OF 
                     DR. XIANGZHONG ``JERRY'' YANG

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 7, 2009

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to declare my 
support for the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2009. I intend to 
cast this vote in honor of the efforts of Dr. Xiangzhong ``Jerry'' 
Yang, a pioneer in cloning and stem cell research, who died of cancer 
three weeks ago at the age of 49. Dr. Yang left a great legacy of hard 
work, dedication, and success on the front lines of stem cell research. 
His work has led to a series of breakthroughs that have taken us closer 
to the dream of cloning stem cells to match an individual and cure the 
individual's disease, a breakthrough that would bring hope to countless 
men, women, and children who are suffering from otherwise untreatable 
illnesses.
  The Yang laboratory, stationed at the University of Connecticut, is 
the world's leading laboratory in animal cloning and stem cell 
technology. Dr. Yang and his team provided critical insights into the 
previously mysterious mechanisms of how germ cells are programmed to 
form embryos, and how these embryos form distinct types of tissue. He 
was instrumental in working with then-Connecticut State Senator Chris 
Murphy (now my colleague Representative Murphy) to establish the 
Connecticut State Stem Cell Research Program, one of the very few such 
programs in the Nation. Because of the program's existence, Connecticut 
was one of the few states that would fund human embryonic stem cell 
research that could not be funded by the Federal Government. Just this 
year, the University of Connecticut announced the derivation of two new 
human embryonic stem cell lines as a result of these research funds. 
This breakthrough, along with many others, would not have happened 
without Jerry's influence and guidance.
  Dr. Yang's ultimate dream to tailor stem cell cloning to specific 
people, organs, and diseases has not yet been realized, but with the 
help of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, we may yet reach the 
world he envisioned: One in which organ damage from cancer, heart 
attacks, spinal disorders, or any other conceivable illness can be 
reversed with stem cell therapy. I ask that my distinguished colleagues 
join me in applauding the work of Dr. Yang: he will be sorely missed, 
but the important work he has done deserves all the recognition and 
support this body can offer.

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