[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 10962-10963]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 STEM CELL THERAPEUTIC AND RESEARCH ACT

  (Mr. RYUN of Kansas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RYUN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, the goal of stem cell research 
should be to help our fellow human beings. The debate on this issue 
has, unfortunately, moved into dangerous unethical territory when 
perfectly moral alternatives exist.
  Rather than debating about unethical methods of research, effective, 
principled alternatives should be sought out that successfully treat 
patients and offer potential channels for further treatment and 
research. There are countless opportunities besides embryonic stem cell 
research that have proven successful.
  Adult stem cells have shown great potential and have effectively 
helped patients. Another alternative is cord-blood stem cells. These 
are a neglected resource that could be used to treat a diverse body of 
people. Evidence has demonstrated that cord-blood stem cells have 
treated a variety of problems, such as spinal cord injuries and 
neurological diseases.

[[Page 10963]]

  By supporting H.R. 2520 later today, progress can be made in finding 
solutions to many medical questions we have to face. H.R. 2520 provides 
an ethical solution to this issue, and I encourage my colleagues to 
support it.

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