[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16014]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           STEM CELL RESEARCH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GINGREY. Madam Speaker, I rise to address the matter of stem cell 
research, in light of the emergence of viable alternatives that would 
continue scientific discovery while respecting human life in all forms 
and in all stages.
  I also rise today as a proud cosponsor of H.R. 3144, the Respect For 
Life Pluripotent Stem Cell Act of 2005. I further would like to thank 
the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Bartlett) for not only his steadfast 
commitment to scientific advancement, but also his steadfast commitment 
to defending the sanctity of human life.
  In a debate that has been dominated by an it-is-the-only-way 
approach, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Bartlett) has introduced a 
solution that could achieve the same objective as the Castle-DeGette 
bill, while preserving human life at its most vulnerable stage.
  Madam Speaker, I recognize that people of goodwill can disagree on 
the matter of when human life begins. However, no one can dispute that 
an embryo is at least potential life; and many people, my physician 
self included, believe an embryo to be a living human being, fully 
vested with the rights that we all enjoy. Therefore, even if someone 
only believes an embryo to be a potential life, they should support the 
Bartlett bill because it accomplishes, Madam Speaker, the same ends as 
the Castle-DeGette bill, while giving the benefit of doubt and erring 
on the side of human life.
  Having practiced for nearly 30 years as a pro-life OB-GYN, I 
cosponsored the Bartlett bill, because it represents the most moral and 
judicious solution to the stem cell research debate.
  Madam Speaker, the Bartlett bill would provide funding to the NIH, 
the National Institutes of Health, $15 million for the creation of a 
research program focused on perfecting the necessary techniques to 
extract stem cells from an embryo without, let me repeat, without 
harming the embryo in any way, shape, or form. This bill further acts 
in a responsible manner by mandating that no human embryos be harmed or 
destroyed, even in the initial perfection of the technique, for the 
research will be done on nonhuman primates.
  The Bartlett bill represents an acceptable compromise to most 
Americans, because they would like to see scientific advancement to 
cure diseases such as Type 1 diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, spinal 
cord injury, while making sure human life is never exploited or harmed 
in the process.
  Madam Speaker, I am also very pleased to see that Majority Leader 
Frist has decided to shepherd a similar bill in the Senate. This marks 
an important step in advancing morally sound and acceptable stem cell 
research. This Congress truly has an incredible opportunity to send to 
the President's desk a stem cell research bill that respects human life 
and supports scientific advancement.
  I would again like to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Bartlett) for taking the lead on this issue and for finding an 
acceptable and moral solution. I also extend my gratitude to Senator 
Frist for his efforts to advance this bill in the Senate. I encourage 
all of my colleagues, both Democrat and Republican, both pro-life and 
pro-choice, to take a good hard look at the Bartlett bill. I think they 
will see that it is the best option to fight disease and find cures in 
a responsible manner.
  This marks an opportunity for this Congress to put partisanship aside 
and just do the right thing. Madam Speaker, the American people expect 
no less of us.

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