[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 11530]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           STEM CELL RESEARCH

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have had a number of conversations the 
last couple of days with the distinguished majority leader about this 
issue of stem cell research. Dr. Frist--and I say Dr. Frist because it 
relates to this matter--indicated he was going to study this during the 
break. I think that is very important.
  We have the opportunity to work together on legislation--I don't mean 
he and I, I mean Democrats and Republicans in the Senate. Earlier this 
week, the House voted to expand the President's stem cell research 
policy. Passage of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act was a victory 
for millions of Americans who suffer from deadly diseases and for their 
families. It was also a victory for bipartisanship. This bill shares 
the same level of bipartisanship and support here in the Senate that it 
did in the House.
  Senators Harkin and Specter, who are champions of medical research, 
have worked hard on this issue. Senators Feinstein, Hatch, Kennedy, and 
Smith have also been leaders on this bill.
  I hope when we return from recess, the distinguished majority leader 
will have had an opportunity to look at this and we can take some time 
to do this. What I do not want on this bill is to have it offered to 
Defense authorization or something such as that. I think it would be 
better if we had freestanding legislation on this. It can be done in a 
relatively short period of time. I certainly hope so. When we come 
back, we have a 4-week work period and we can work it in during that 
period of time.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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