[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13543]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  SUPPORT EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kerns). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, Della Mae is a wonderful, loving, 79-year-
old woman totally debilitated by Alzheimer's disease. Joey was a 
promising young man in his early 20s who died a horrible death; a 
cruel, tragic death from diabetes.
  Mr. Speaker, Della Mae is my mother. Joey was my first cousin. On 
behalf of my beloved mother and my first cousin, I plead with the 
President and the Congress to accept the NIH report on the medical 
value of embryonic stem cell research and to not block Federal funding 
for this promising, life-saving research; on behalf of not only my 
mother and my first cousin, but 100 million other Americans suffering 
from Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, juvenile 
diabetes, multiple sclerosis, as well as spinal cord injuries resulting 
in paralysis.
  Mr. Speaker, I have watched several close friends devastated by 
Parkinson's Disease and spinal cord injuries, conditions that could 
also be aided by embryonic stem cell research. Who amongst us, who 
amongst us has not been profoundly moved by the sight of former 
President Ronald Reagan, that giant of a man, now reduced to a mere 
shadow of his former self by Alzheimer's disease.
  Mr. Speaker, the scientific evidence is overwhelming that stem cells 
collected from surplus embryos have great potential to regenerate 
specific types of human tissues and offer hope for millions of 
Americans devastated by these and other cruel, fatal diseases. 
According to research doctors I have talked to at the Mayo Clinic as 
well as NIH, a vaccine to prevent the onset of Alzheimer's is less than 
5 years away, thanks in large part to stem cell research.
  Yes, Mr. Speaker, using surplus embryos from in-vitro fertilization 
that would otherwise be discarded has the potential to save lives and 
prevent terrible human suffering. Members and the President need to 
listen to respected colleagues like Senators Orrin Hatch and Connie 
Mack, as well as Secretary Tommy Thompson, when they tell us this is 
not an abortion issue. The President and Members need to be clear, Mr. 
Speaker, that abortion politics should not enter into this decision and 
certainly should not influence this critical decision.
  Embryonic stem cell research, in fact, will prolong life, will 
improve life, and give hope of life for millions of American people 
suffering the ravages of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes, and 
multiple sclerosis, not to mention spinal cord paralysis.
  So, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of millions of Americans with 
debilitating, incurable disorders, I respectfully urge the President 
and the Congress to approve crucial Federal funding for this life-
saving medical research. In approving such funding, Mr. Speaker, we can 
also adopt the same model of accountability and oversight that is used 
in fetal tissue transplantation research which allows the best possible 
science to progress.
  Mr. Speaker, it is too late for my dear mother and my decreased 
cousin, but it is not too late for 100 million other American people 
counting on the President and the Congress to give them hope. Let us 
give them hope. Let us give them life. Let us support funding for life-
saving and life-extending embryonic stem cell research. It is clearly, 
clearly the right thing to do.

                          ____________________