[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 7055-7060]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           STEM CELL RESEARCH

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, growing up in the little town of 
Searchlight, there are a number of things that stand out in my mind. 
One is I remember so vividly a man by the name of Elwin Kent. Elwin was 
a friend of my father's. They grew up together. But Elwin as a little 
boy was stricken with polio. Elwin was very deformed. He walked with a 
very significant limp, and he had on his back a huge hump. I don't 
know, but it was at least a foot. It stuck out his back about a foot. 
He was a very handsome man, but he was terribly handicapped.
  I came as a boy to realize how he got sick because when I was growing 
up, the scourge was Elwin's disease, polio. Infantile paralysis we 
called it. I worried about that as most young people

[[Page 7056]]

of my age did. In Searchlight, as I was growing up we had no cases, but 
that didn't prevent my worrying about the disease.
  My wife and I a short time ago--a matter of a month or so ago--were 
surprised when we got in the mail a letter sent to me in Searchlight, 
NV. I opened the letter, and it was from a girl I had heard about from 
my wife, in our conversations, with whom she had spent her early days. 
That was maybe in the second grade. Two little girls. My wife used to 
tell me about her red-haired friend Gail and how much she cared about 
her.
  Gail found out where Landra, my wife, had gone. She learned that I 
was serving in the Senate, and she heard that I was from Searchlight 
and took a chance and wrote that letter.
  The reason I mention that letter, which was such a surprise and made 
my wife feel so good, is that one of the things Landra remembers about 
Gail, in addition to her bright red hair, is the fact that as a little 
girl she had polio and was taken out of school and placed in a 
hospital, as my wife remembers, in an iron lung. So, of course, my wife 
growing up worried about that. But Gail was gone, and she didn't really 
know how her life turned out.
  Without belaboring the point, these two women who had known each 
other 50 years ago were able to spend time on the telephone. It was as 
if they had never been separated.
  So Elwin Kent and Gail Randolph growing up contracted infantile 
paralysis. It was there. It was something we worried about, as did all 
people of our vintage.
  Today is different. We have been able, through science, to eradicate 
polio in most every place in the world, but I still receive letters in 
my Senate offices from people who are concerned about other issues. I 
will read three of these letters addressed to me:

       . . . My son 22 years old was in a diving accident just two 
     weeks after graduating from high school and is now a 
     quadriplegic. So instead of heading off to college on a 
     soccer scholarship that autumn, he found himself being fitted 
     for a wheelchair and a life of total dependency on others. . 
     . . while they [stem cells] may not cure him to the point of 
     walking again, they will certainly provide him with an 
     opportunity to improve the quality of his life. He wants to 
     be able to feed himself, brush his own teeth, wash his hands 
     and face when he wants to . . . I know you support stem cell 
     research, but I just wanted to give you my support and the 
     support of our entire family as you fight the fight for those 
     who can't fight for themselves. . . .

  Mr. President, I want the record to reflect that I will use leader 
time so I don't take time from Senators on this side of the aisle. So I 
am using leader time.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. It is so noted.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have another letter from Yerington, NV. 
Here is what it says:

       I am asking you again to do your best for my son and the 
     millions of others who need a cure for diabetes. . . . My son 
     was in the hospital yesterday. . . . I can't tell you how 
     hard and painful it is to see your son like that. . . . my 
     wife and I would give our lives to ensure that our son can 
     beat diabetes. . . . The Senate will soon vote on the stem 
     cell bill that you still support. Please try to change the 
     minds of those that are not for it.

  Then one final letter from a man in Las Vegas:

       I have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). . . . my family 
     doesn't want me to leave them. At the least, my family wants 
     some hope that science will be allowed to use all means 
     available to them, to try to find some treatment that will 
     extend life until a cure is found. I would like to have those 
     people who are opposed to federal assistance for embryonic 
     stem cell research for therapeutic purposes, explain to my 
     family why they are being denied hope that might be available 
     if the federal government funds all reasonable medical 
     research for my illness and those other illnesses that today 
     provide no hope for the future.

  Mr. President, these families are not asking for anything except 
hope--hope--for a better future for them and their loved ones.
  Stem cell research holds a promise for medical breakthroughs. As 
former First Lady Nancy Reagan said so clearly, vividly, and who 
watched with great courage as her husband's Alzheimer's overtook this 
good man, she said:

       I just don't see how we can turn our backs on this . . . We 
     have lost so much time already. She gave this statement in 
     2004:

  I just really can't bear to lose any more time.

  Unfortunately, more than 2 years have passed since Nancy Reagan said 
this, and this Republican-controlled Congress has been unable and 
unwilling to reach agreement on how to expand the President's 
restrictive stem cell policy that is hindering scientific progress 
toward possible cures and treatments for a wide variety of diseases and 
conditions.

  We are rapidly approaching the 1-year anniversary of the date of the 
House of Representatives passing H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research 
Enhancement Act. This act would expand President Bush's 2001 policy for 
Federal funding for stem cell research and permit Federal researchers 
at NIH, the National Institutes of Health, which has the capability of 
the strongest oversight in the world, to finally explore the many 
possibilities stem cell research holds for America.
  Over the past year, I have repeatedly asked the majority leader to 
find time to consider this bill which has a bipartisan majority of the 
Senate supporting it. My request for action has been met by delay and 
inaction. One year may not seem like a lot to people, especially in the 
Senate--we seem to have our days, weeks, months, and years run 
together--but 1 year is an eternity if someone you love is suffering 
from a condition where stem cell research, according to the experts, 
can offer help.
  There are a number of very important issues this body ought to 
consider this session. I say, Mr. President, none--none--even though we 
have deficit problems, problems with our environment, education, health 
care, the war in Iraq--I say nothing is more important to the American 
people than legislation that could provide medical breakthroughs that 
would benefit millions--millions--of Americans. We can certainly do 
better than what we have done. We can do better for the Nevadans whose 
letters I have read.
  I can see in my mind a man who was the chief executive officer of 
Nevada Power, the largest power company in Nevada, who contracted Lou 
Gehrig's disease. This young man lived 18 months--very difficult 
months. People are counting on the promise of this groundbreaking 
research. The passage of the House stem cell bill on May 24 of last 
year was a rare victory for bipartisanship here. It is my hope that we 
will embrace the same spirit of bipartisanship in the Senate and pass 
this legislation.
  Immediately after the House passed its stem cell bill, I spoke with 
the majority leader about the need to take up this crucial legislation 
as soon as possible. At that time, Dr. Frist assured me that we would 
consider the stem cell bill in the Senate by July of last year. By the 
end of July of last year, the majority leader still hadn't scheduled 
debate on the stem cell bill. So I moved to take up and pass the House 
bill by unanimous consent. Dr. Frist objected to this request but 
delivered a courageous speech the next day in which he expressed 
support for Federal funding for expanded embryonic stem cell research.
  In that statement, the majority leader said, ``The potential of stem 
cell research to save lives and human suffering deserves our increased 
energy and focus.'' Yet when we returned after the August recess of 
last year, the majority leader still could not find time to debate this 
important legislation. He found time for the Republicans, as the 
leaders of American churches have said, for a moral budget, he found 
time for drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge and more deficit 
spending, but still no time for keeping hope alive with the promise of 
stem cell research.
  In December, just 5 months ago, the majority leader asked consent to 
take up and pass the House cord blood bill. Well, these were supposed 
to be joined together. We reluctantly said OK. We said we will do this 
and then we will move to the bill that we want, the one that passed the 
House. Well, at that time he expressed--he meaning Senator

[[Page 7057]]

Frist--again his commitment to the stem cell bill. Once again, we were 
not allowed to move to that bill. Instead, we passed the cord blood 
bill in exchange for a commitment to consider the stem cell bill early 
in this session.
  Three months after he made that commitment, I raised the issue again, 
and I asked that he schedule time for the Senate to consider this issue 
prior to the 1-year anniversary passage of the House bill. 
Unfortunately, this request met the same fate as my previous requests.
  Two months have passed since my last exchange with Senator Frist, and 
he has yet to provide the Senate with an opportunity to pass this 
important legislation. Even as he announced his plans for a Health Week 
in the Senate sometime this month, he made it clear that stem cell 
research would not be part of his plan. Today is May 4, and we are fast 
approaching the 1-year anniversary of the House passing H.R. 810 and 
the start of Health Week. Still, no stem cell legislation.
  For all of these reasons and many more, I am sending the majority 
leader a letter signed by 40 Democrats asking the majority leader to 
make H.R. 810 a priority during this Health Week. I ask unanimous 
consent that this letter be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                                  U.S. Senate,

                                      Washington, DC, May 2, 2006.
     Hon. William Frist, M.D.,
     Majority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Dr. Frist: Nearly a year ago, the House of 
     Representatives approved important legislation to end the 
     restrictions that have kept stem cell research from 
     fulfilling its potential to save lives and alleviate 
     suffering. We understand that you are planning a week of 
     Senate debate on legislation related to health, We urge you 
     to bring the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 (H.R. 
     810) to the Senate floor for consideration during this 
     ``Health Week''.
       Stem cell research has vast potential for curing diseases 
     and saving lives. We know you recognize the enormous 
     potential of this research for discovering new cures and 
     therapies for diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease 
     and spinal cord injuries, and commend the strong support you 
     have expressed for approval of the House-passed bill. By 
     allowing H.R. 810 to be brought to a vote, you can bring hope 
     and help to millions of American patients and families 
     suffering from these and other serious illnesses.
       The House passed H.R. 810 in May 2005--yet the Senate has 
     failed to take action for nearly a year. Further delay will 
     mean more lost opportunities for new cures and new 
     treatments. The Senate should mark the anniversary of the 
     House vote with action, not more inaction, We therefore urge 
     you to bring H.R. 810 to the Senate floor for debate and a 
     vote during ``Health Week''. Millions of patients and their 
     families across the nation cannot afford to wait any longer 
     for enactment of this urgently needed legislation.
       Sincerely,
         Harry Reid, Dianne Feinstein, Tom Harkin, Ted Kennedy, 
           Joe Lieberman, Barack Obama, Daniel Inouye, Jack Reed, 
           Tom Carper, Russ Feingold, Herb Kohl, Paul Sarbanes, 
           Frank R. Lautenberg, Debbie Stabenow, Bill Nelson, 
           Maria Cantwell, Mary L. Landrieu, Jeff Bingaman, Max 
           Baucus, Robert Menendez, Chuck Schumer, Byron L. 
           Dorgan, Tim Johnson, Barbara Boxer, Hillary Rodham 
           Clinton, Chris Dodd, John F. Kerry, Patty Murray, Jim 
           Jeffords, Ken Salazar, Barbara A. Mikulski, Joe Biden, 
           Evan Bayh, Patrick Leahy, Carl Levin, Mark Dayon, Dick 
           Durbin, Blanche L. Lincoln, Daniel K. Akaka, Ron Wyden.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, if we are truly committed to lowering the 
cost of health care in our country, we need to invest in medical 
research that has the potential to combat life-threatening and chronic 
diseases. Stem cell research shows tremendous promise. Federal funding 
of embryonic stem cell research will allow our Nation to lead the world 
in this research and ensure that stem cell research is conducted with 
the strongest oversight in the world. When it comes to the possibility 
of finding cures, we cannot leave our best and brightest researchers 
with their hands tied, and we cannot deny Americans the hope of 
eventually finding a cure for a wide range of illnesses.
  The House dealt with this issue, and we should do the same. I hope 
the majority leader will find this legislation important enough to 
consider as part of Health Week, and I will work with him in any way 
possible to schedule this to move forward before May 24, the 1-year 
anniversary of the passage by the House of this most important bill, a 
bill which gives hope to millions of Americans who, as indicated in 
these letters, are losing hope.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. There is 30 minutes under the control of 
the minority leader or his designee.
  The Senator from Illinois is recognized.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I thank the Democratic leader, Senator 
Reid, for bringing this issue to the floor. This is something we have 
talked about a lot in our private meetings: stem cell research. It is a 
matter of great frustration, frustration because we understand there 
are literally millions of Americans who are counting on us, the Senate, 
to assume our responsibility and take up a bill that was passed by the 
House of Representatives almost 1 year ago.
  Senator Reid came to the Senate floor and for the last few moments 
told us of his own personal commitment to this issue, and I share it. 
He read letters from his constituents and talked about his life 
experience. He then presented a letter that we have sent to Senator 
Frist asking him to use his power to bring this issue to the floor.
  This morning across America, people got up, started their day, many 
of them as healthy as can be but some suffering from illness and others 
with members of their families suffering from serious illness. Many of 
the people keep going because there is the hope, just the hope, that 
something might come along--a treatment, a medicine--something that 
might give them a chance to have a full life. That is what stem cell 
research is all about.
  When President Bush decided to announce that it would be the policy 
of the United States of America to restrict scientific research 
involving stem cells, he ended up closing off opportunities for people 
to live without fear, without disease, without the shortcomings of the 
illnesses from which they suffer. It was a Government-mandated decision 
which would stop that medical research here in the United States. 
Across the country, some States have said: We are going to lead if the 
Government won't. The State of California, my State of Illinois, and 
others have stepped up and said: We will fund stem cell research 
because we believe it is so critically important. Sadly, this 
administration refuses. Now it will take congressional action. The 
House has done its job. It has passed this bill and sent it to the 
Senate. We have waited.
  It has been 346 days since the House of Representatives passed this 
important stem cell legislation. In just short of 2 weeks, it will be 1 
year--1 year--since they sent us this bill. Sadly, in that period of 
time, despite his promises, as Senator Reid has told us, Senator Frist 
will not call up the stem cell research bill.
  I was so encouraged--and many others were as well--when Senator Frist 
came to the Chamber and said publicly that he was going to support this 
bill. It gave hope to people, that finally we would have a bipartisan 
effort that would grow here in the Senate to the point where a majority 
would pass this legislation. But for reasons I can't explain, so many 
other things are of greater importance when it comes to the Senate 
agenda.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, would the Senator yield for a question?
  Mr. DURBIN. I would be happy to yield for a question.
  Mr. REID. The Senator from Illinois and I are about the same age. Do 
you remember as a boy being worried about polio?
  Mr. DURBIN. Absolutely.
  Mr. REID. And do you remember the relief that was given to us as 
boys, young boys, when a cure was found? They could give us a shot. We 
knew we wouldn't go into an iron lung or have a hump on our back like 
my friend Elwin, whom I love almost like an uncle--not almost, like an 
uncle.
  Does the Senator acknowledge that all these people who suffer from 
Lou Gehrig's disease and Parkinson's and diabetes and all of these 
other diseases, that they have been told by the foremost scientists 
around the world that there is hope for them, that they would

[[Page 7058]]

have the same relief we had when we learned there was a cure for polio?
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I would say in response to the Senator 
from Nevada the name Jonas Salk, a name no one ever heard of until this 
great researcher came up with a vaccine for polio. When we were in 
grade school as children and saw our fellow students crippled by polio, 
in fear that it could strike us, Jonas Salk, this researcher, came 
forward with that vaccine and he changed our lives. He took a burden 
off of our lives and the lives of our parents who worried about whether 
their kids would contract polio.
  Why can't we give the same hope and same promise to a new generation 
of Americans with stem cell research? Why is our Government, why is 
this administration, why is the President blocking this research, and 
why won't the Senate Republican leadership bring this bill to the 
floor?
  If this is about National Health Care Week, shouldn't we be talking 
about medical research? Shouldn't we be talking about new cures and new 
opportunities so people can have a better life? Unfortunately, we are 
not.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, will the Senator yield for another question?
  Mr. DURBIN. I am happy to yield.
  Mr. REID. Does the Senator acknowledge that Jonas Salk and others 
doing this research had the full support of the Federal Government 
every step of the way on this very delicate, deliberate, tough path 
they followed to find a cure?
  Mr. DURBIN. That is exactly the point we should remember when it 
comes to stem cell research. How much better would our research be if 
this Government stood behind efforts to find cures instead of creating 
these obstacles?
  When President Bush made his announcement--and I believe it was in 
August of 2001--about stem cell research, he did not take an absolute 
position saying he was opposed to stem cell research because it was 
immoral or for some other reason; he said he would allow stem cell 
research to continue along certain stem cell lines that currently 
exist. But in making that announcement, he restricted the opportunity 
to expand that research in our country. It was a Government decision to 
restrict the research into stem cells that could save lives and change 
lives dramatically. So I would say that what we face in the Senate is a 
moral imperative. Will we step forward now, 1 year after the House has 
passed this legislation? Will we put the bill on the floor and vote it 
up or down?
  I can tell you, in the city of Chicago and in the State of Illinois, 
I have traveled around and met with many people who are counting on us.
  I had a little gathering in Chicago at the Chicago Rehab Institute, 
one of the best in America, and we had people come in who were 
interested in this issue. We had folks from the American Diabetes 
Association who believe stem cell research may offer the opportunity 
for a cure for some forms of diabetes. As more and more people are 
stricken with this disease, as their lives are compromised and changed, 
can we deny them this opportunity?
  Others came in suffering from Parkinson's. Parkinson's is a disease 
which I know a little bit about personally because of one of my closest 
friends in Congress, Lane Evans, the Congressman from Rock Island, IL. 
He and I came to the Congress in the same year of 1982. In 1996, I was 
out campaigning with Lane in a parade in Galesburg, IL. I didn't 
realize it at the time, but Lane felt that day that something was wrong 
with him. He wasn't sure what it was. He said he had lost the feeling 
in his hand. He didn't say anything that day, and it wasn't until 
several years later that the diagnosis was made that he suffers from 
Parkinson's. He has been a real profile in courage. He has stood up and 
represented the people of his district, and he has been very honest 
about his disease and how it has limited his life.
  We were all saddened just a few weeks ago when Lane made the public 
announcement that he couldn't continue, that he would have to withdraw 
his name from the ballot this year. This young man--this young man--is 
going to have his life changed dramatically because of Parkinson's. Can 
we do anything less than push for medical research for those who may be 
suffering from Parkinson's or threatened by it? Does it make us a 
better or more moral people to withhold this research that can hold 
such promise for these people?
  The same thing is true with Alzheimer's. As more and more Americans 
advance in age, Alzheimer's is more prevalent. We find more instances 
of people in nursing homes who need special care. There is a chance, 
there is a good chance, that stem cell research may open some doors and 
some avenues to at least ameliorating the negative aspects of this 
Alzheimer's disease and maybe someday find a cure. How long can we 
wait? How long can we wait for the political leaders in the Senate to 
wake up to reality? The American people are counting on us.
  If we wonder why the American voters are cynical, whether they 
question if this Congress has any value in their lives, take a look at 
this issue. For a year we have been sitting on a bill the majority 
leader in the Senate says he supports. He won't call up the stem cell 
research bill. I could go through a long list of other bills he has 
called, some that I consider just plain wrong, and others 
insignificant. They have taken the place of stem cell research. Why? 
Next week we are going to deal with Health Care Week. I salute Senator 
Enzi, the Senator from Wyoming. He wants to talk about health 
insurance. I don't agree with his approach. I have an alternative. I 
salute him for coming to the Senate floor and pushing this forward. Why 
can't we get the same leadership from the Republican leader of the 
Senate when it comes to stem cell research? How can we have a National 
Health Care Week and not deal with medical research after we promised 
over a year to do so?
  I take a look at the people who came to that meeting in Chicago and 
remember so well a young man, a very young man in a wheelchair 
suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease, a handsome fellow with a beautiful 
young wife. He broke down in tears because he could barely speak. He 
was losing control of his body even as he sat there, telling me how 
critically important medical research was. Anyone who has seen a victim 
of Lou Gehrig's disease, whether it was the late Senator Jacob Javits 
of New York or, of course, the late Lou Gehrig himself, as we saw his 
baseball career come to an end, understands how devastating this can 
be. The only thing that keeps many going is the hope, the chance that a 
cure will be found. Where is that hope? Where is that cure? It is 
buried in the calendar of the Senate. It is buried in the calendar of 
the Senate because the leadership will not call up stem cell research 
for a vote.
  Instead, Senator Frist is going to bring the issue of medical 
malpractice to the floor again next week. It has been brought over and 
over again. After days have been devoted to debate, it has been stopped 
because many believe this is an issue of State responsibility and not 
an issue for the Federal Government. Yet he wants to take up several 
days on the Senate calendar, several days which may ultimately lead to 
no conclusion on the issue of medical malpractice. Wouldn't it be 
better to devote those days, 3 of those days, to stem cell research?
  Think about it. As we avoid our responsibility in stem cell research, 
the medical challenges are still there. All across the United States, 
loving couples who were unable to conceive a child have turned to in 
vitro fertilization. Beautiful young babies have resulted, children who 
are loved and cherished because of the advances of science.
  But during the course of this in vitro fertilization, spare 
fertilized eggs are produced. What will happen to those eggs? In many 
instances they will be thrown away, destroyed on the spot. Instead of 
destroying them, wouldn't it be better to take the embryonic stem cells 
from those same eggs and use them to find a cure for Alzheimer's, for 
Parkinson's, for diabetes, for Lou Gehrig's disease, to see if we can 
regenerate spinal cord injuries and give people who are crippled and 
paralyzed a chance?

[[Page 7059]]

  Let me tell you the story of one of those people right now. He is 
from Germantown, IL, which I know pretty well, down around my home area 
of East St. Louis. His name is Matt Langenhorst. Matt was 31 years old. 
He was a picture of health, a 6-foot-4-inch police officer. In the year 
2001, he and his wife were hit by a car. Matt is now paralyzed from the 
neck down. His wife is his full-time caregiver.
  Today, Matt moves his wheelchair by blowing into a tube. Simple 
things that we take for granted take Matt minutes and hours to 
accomplish. Almost everything in his life requires assistance.
  When he was injured, Matt and his family were certain that research 
was promising that he would walk again. They were counting on medical 
research. That was 5 years ago--5 years paralyzed.
  His family was in my office this week asking why we have not done 
more. They wanted to know what we were doing about stem cell research. 
This bill passed the House of Representatives with Democrats and 
Republicans. What are we waiting for?
  I can't answer that question. I don't know what could be more 
important from the Republican majority point of view than to move 
forward with this critical stem cell research. I think the Senate 
should pass H.R. 810 as quickly as possible. Perhaps we should set 
aside some of the other pets and favorites for a few moments and 
address this issue of medical research. So many people are counting on 
us.
  When we look at the budget that the President has just sent us, sadly 
I am afraid medical research is not the priority it once was. I was 
here when, on a bipartisan basis, Congressman John Porter, Republican 
from Illinois; Senator Arlen Specter, Republican from Pennsylvania; 
Senator Tom Harkin, Democrat from Iowa, all agreed we would double the 
budget for the National Institutes of Health so that they could find 
more cures, there would be more money to be invested in research.
  What happened last year? We froze the budget. We decided not to 
increase it. In this year's budget, sadly, the President did the same 
thing. This year's budget from President Bush to Capitol Hill cuts 
funding for 18 of the 19 institutes at the National Institutes of 
Health.
  What does that mean? It means 642 fewer research projects will be 
undertaken, 642 projects trying to find cures for cancer, heart 
disease, stroke, muscular dystrophy, and so many other terrible 
disorders. What greater priority is there for this country than medical 
research? What can we possibly think is more important than advancing 
research?
  I met recently with some scientific investigators who said: You know, 
I am worried, worried if we don't invest in research the young people 
who should be developing the expertise will not have the incentive to 
do it. They will be afraid the NIH won't be able to fund the important 
projects they can devote their lives to.
  The President has decided first to stop stem cell research, to limit 
it to a very small number of stem cell lines that are inadequate to the 
task of developing cures for disease, and then to cut the budget for 
medical research at the National Institutes of Health. The President 
does this at the same time that he is calling for tax cuts for the most 
wealthy people in America, people who have not even asked for a tax 
cut. Why in the world would we build up the debt of America and cut 
back on essentials such as medical research and education and health 
care to provide a tax cut for the wealthiest people in America? The 
priorities are just wrong. The Bush policies, when it comes to medical 
research, are wrong. They are moving America in a wrong direction. They 
are moving us away from finding cures and bringing hope to those who 
are afflicted with disease.
  Sadly, we have to change that direction. We have to say to the 
President we don't accept this Bush policy. It is wrong when it comes 
to medical research, and that decision and that statement has to be 
made right here on the Senate floor with 100 men and women elected from 
across the United States to speak for the people who are waiting in 
hope, people like those I have described--people like that couple in 
Germantown, IL, the Langenhorsts, Matt and Erika. I don't know if they 
are following this debate. I hope they are. More important, I hope this 
debate leads to something positive.
  Next week, when Senator Frist wants to bring up national health care, 
we are going to make an effort on the floor of the Senate to bring up 
stem cell research. It is about time he faces the reality. We can't put 
this off any longer. He has promised time to deal with so many issues--
immigration and so many other things. He said he wants to set aside a 
certain piece of our schedule and devote it to a debate on gay 
marriage, a constitutional amendment on gay marriage. We want to spend 
a week or so talking about gay marriage.
  What is more important? Stem cell research and medical research to 
find cures, that we spend the time to get that done, or 4 or 5 days on 
gay marriage? Honest to goodness, when it comes down to the priorities 
and values of the Republican leadership, I don't understand it.
  They also want to consider a constitutional amendment on flag 
burning. You know, I have not noticed an epidemic of flag burning 
across America. I love our flag like every other American, but we are 
going to devote 3 or 4 or 5 days to talk about another constitutional 
amendment to ban flag burning? I would much rather see us put as a 
first priority medical research and stem cell research.
  We are prepared to challenge Senator Frist. Every time he comes up 
with a clearly political issue designed strictly for votes in November 
rather than for the needs of this Nation, we are going to challenge 
him. We are going to challenge him to bring up the issues that count, 
issues like stem cell research, issues like the energy costs across 
America that have to be addressed here and now, issues like the cost of 
health insurance, which not only threatens families but threatens the 
future of many businesses, particularly small businesses. Those are the 
real issues. Those are the things that people care about.
  Instead, we fritter away our time, we waste our time on virtually 
insignificant issues such as this political posturing for the next 
election. This stem cell research issue is a bipartisan issue. There 
are Republican and Democratic Senators who support it. It is a chance 
for us to stand up once as an institution and be proud that we have a 
bipartisan solution to advance medical research in America. But, 
unfortunately, we have not been able to prevail. Unfortunately, for 346 
days now we have waited for Senator Frist to call the bill on stem cell 
research.
  That is his responsibility. That is the responsibility of the 
Republican majority. I hope they accept that responsibility. Senator 
Frist, more than any other Member of the Senate, understands the 
importance of medical research. He is an honored cardio surgeon, a 
transplant surgeon who brings his special expertise to the floor of the 
Senate. When he announced he was for stem cell research, it was a 
breakthrough. It was a breakthrough that on the Republican side, a man 
of his stature would say that he supports it. Now that he has made that 
commitment almost a year ago, it is time for us to act, and act now. We 
need to make sure we restore the budget for the National Institutes of 
Health. We need to move this bill forward.
  If we start cutting the NIH budget, advances that have saved lives in 
heart disease and Leukemia, cystic fibrosis, and so many other areas, 
those advances will slow down. It is just that simple. Medical research 
is slow. It takes time, and it costs money. But it saves lives. It 
means a mom or dad with an incurable disease can live long enough so 
their kids will remember them.
  Between the prohibition on stem cell research and the cuts to NIH 
funding, lifesaving medical research under the Bush administration in 
this country is sadly on the ropes. We can do something about it. We 
can pass H.R. 810. We can tell President Bush that his budget 
priorities are wrong, that we are going to put the money into stem cell 
research.

[[Page 7060]]

  There are unused embryonic stem cells in eggs donated voluntarily by 
couples who no longer need them, which can be used for this valuable 
research. Otherwise they will be discarded, thrown way. Estimates 
suggest there are 400,000 of these unused embryonic stem cells 
currently available for research. What is stopping those cells from 
moving from storage in these frozen environments to laboratories where 
they may find cures? The decision of the President of the United States 
to stop the research. When we lift this restriction on Federal research 
dollars, it will provide stem cells that medical science tells us have 
the ability to change lives and save lives and to transform into almost 
every type of cell and tissue. Research will show us how to harness 
that ability to heal and repair damage done by disease.
  We owe it to the families of those who are affected by disease and 
disability. The stem cell issue will not go away. I urge Senator Frist 
to show the same leadership today that he showed last year when he 
announced his support for stem cell research by announcing when he will 
schedule this for a vote, give us a time certain, do not leave the 
floor of the Senate today without a time certain on a vote on stem cell 
research. We owe it to the millions of families across America who are 
counting on us.
  Mr. President, I reserve the remainder of my time.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Isakson). The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, today I come to the Senate floor to speak 
briefly about stem cell research and the hope it holds for millions of 
Americans in the years ahead.
  Hope is one of the qualities of spirit that make us human. Hope 
allows us to dream of a better life for our children, our community, 
and our world, especially for loved ones now suffering or in pain.
  Hope is what stem cell research holds for the parents of children 
with diabetes, who dream of a day when their constant fears for their 
children's well-being are things of the past.
  Hope is what stem cell research brings to those with Parkinson's 
disease, who think of the time when the tremors of that disease are 
banished forever.
  Hope is what stem cell research brings to millions of Americans who 
seek better treatments and better drugs for cancer, diabetes, spinal 
injury, and many other serious conditions.
  Hope cannot be extinguished or destroyed but it can be frozen. And it 
has now been frozen for 5 long years, ever since President Bush shut 
down the stem cell research program begun in the Clinton 
administration, and imposed arbitrary and unwarranted restrictions on 
this lifesaving research, based on ideology, instead of science.
  For 5 years, we have watched as America has abdicated its global 
leadership in this important new field, by keeping our best scientists 
on the sidelines.
  In those 5 years, we have squandered the opportunity to set strong 
ethical guidelines for this research through the oversight that NIH 
funding can bring. Through NIH, we have made progress consistent with 
our values in new fields of in as recombinant DNA research, which once 
also seemed strange and controversial. We can do the same for stem cell 
research but only if NIH is allowed to become a leader in this new 
field.
  Hope soared anew a year ago, when the House of Representatives set 
aside partisan differences and courageously approved legislation to end 
those restrictions, and give our scientists the tools they need to make 
progress in the fight against disease.
  The same strong bipartisan support exists in the Senate for ending 
the unwarranted restrictions on stem cell research.
  There is no one in the Senate with stronger pro-life credentials than 
Senator Hatch, but he knows that supporting stem cell research is the 
pro-life position to take.
  There is no greater supporter of medical research in the Senate than 
Senator Specter, and he feels strongly that stem cell research is one 
of the great breakthroughs of modern medicine.
  There is no one with a greater depth of conscience than Senator 
Smith, and he has searched his heart and prayerfully decided that 
support for stem cell research is the moral choice.
  Bipartisan legislation was passed by a vote of 238 to 194 in the 
House of Representatives on May 24, 2005, a year ago this month. It was 
ordered placed on the Senate Calendar on June 6, where it has remained 
stalled ever since. If the House bill was put to a Senate vote today or 
tomorrow or next week, it would pass by a solid bipartisan majority in 
the Senate too.
  Why? Because the Republican Senate leadership stands in the way. 
Summer came and went with no action in the Senate, then the winter, 
then the spring, and now we are about to reach an anniversary none of 
us ever wanted to see. On May 24, it will be 1 year since the House 
acted, and the Senate still refuses to act.
  Let us vow that we will not mark this anniversary with yet more 
inaction and indifference.
  The Senate has had a busy schedule, but in that schedule we have 
found time for all manner of giveaways to those who already have much 
in the way of wealth and power.
  Now, it is time to turn our attention to those who need our help the 
most. And that includes the millions of Americans who have seen their 
hopes blocked by the administration's cruel policies and the Senate's 
shameful inaction.
  The Senate leadership has scheduled a Health Week for later this 
month. Will we use this opportunity to debate the flawed Medicare drug 
program? Or the soaring number of the uninsured? Will we do what we 
need to do to unlock the vast potential of stem cell research? Sadly, 
the answer to each of these questions is probably no. These and many 
other major priorities for the Nation will remain unaddressed.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in asking the Senate leadership to 
schedule a vote on House Resolution 810, the House-passed stem cell 
research bill, during the coming Health Week and to do so before May 
24, the first year anniversary of its approval by the House of 
Representatives.
  Millions of patients and their families look with hope to stem cell 
research, and they should not have to tolerate any greater delay or any 
further failures.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, how much time remains?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority time is 19 minutes 10 seconds.

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