[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12493-12494]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           STEM CELL RESEARCH

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, just a few days ago U.S. researchers at the 
National Institutes of Health announced they were able to help 
paralyzed rats move again by using embryonic stem cells from mice. This 
study is evidence that these stem cells will likely treat and cure 
people with spinal cord injuries or nerve-destroying illnesses such as 
Lou Gehrig's disease, MS--multiple sclerosis--muscular dystrophy, and 
other things.
  On this breakthrough, Dr. Elias Zerhouni, Director of the National 
Institutes of Health, issued the follow statement:

       This work is a remarkable advance that will help us 
     understand how stem cells might be used to treat injuries and 
     disease and begin to fulfill their great promise. A 
     successful demonstration of functional restoration is proof 
     of the principle and an important step forward. We must 
     remember, however, that we still have a great distance to go.

  The doctor is right. There is no question that much work remains to 
be done before science will know if they can apply his advances to 
human beings. We have, as the doctor said, a great distance to go, and 
if the Senate doesn't expand the President's stem cell research policy, 
it will only make this great distance even longer.
  Under the President's stem cell policy, Federal research funds can be 
used only on a small number of these stem cell lines that were created 
before August 9, 2001. This restriction excludes newer and more 
promising stem cell lines. These limitations only serve to further 
delay progress for research that could ultimately benefit a broad range 
of diseases and conditions.
  One year and one month ago, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 
810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. This legislation would 
expand President Bush's 2001 policy for Federal funding for stem cell 
research and permit Federal researchers at the National Institutes of 
Health, with the strongest oversight in the world, to finally explore 
the many possibilities stem cell research holds.
  Over the past year, I have repeatedly asked the distinguished 
majority leader to find time to consider this bill, but

[[Page 12494]]

my requests have been met by inaction.
  As a result, millions of Americans who could benefit from the cures 
offered by stem cell research have been forced to wait. They have 
waited through weeks dedicated to issues such as defining marriage. 
They have waited through weeks dedicated to issues such as the estate 
tax. They have waited through weeks dedicated to special interests and 
the majority's well-connected friends. And next week, I am told we are 
going to spend it on flag burning. They even waited through a Health 
Week that had nothing to do with getting America health care. How we 
could have a Health Care Week in the Senate and not consider stem cell 
research is very difficult for the American people to understand.
  A month ago, the 1-year anniversary of the passage of the House bill, 
Senator Frist once again said he would find time for the Senate to 
consider stem cell this summer. Summer is here. We have had time for 
marriage, we have had time for the estate tax, and we are going to have 
time next week for flag burning. Shouldn't we have time for stem cell 
legislation? But here we are on June 23. Another month has passed, and 
still we don't have a commitment to take up stem cell research 
legislation. That is not acceptable. The news this week that scientists 
were able to regrow damaged nerves in rats using embryonic stem cells 
is more evidence of the great promise of this research.
  We need a new direction. We need to bring this legislation to the 
Senate floor and give hope to victims of Lou Gehrig's, diabetes, 
Parkinson's, muscular dystrophy, lupus, and other diseases that could 
possibly be cured by stem cell research.
  Every day, I hear from Nevadans who want the Senate to act on the 
issue of stem cell research so our researchers may fully explore the 
great promise of stem cells. Here is one example of what I hear. It is 
from one woman from Henderson, NV. She wrote me a letter expressing the 
hope that stem cells offers her and her family.
  Her letter says, among other things:

       .  . . My 22-year-old son 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. . . .

  Think of the hope of this mother when she heard on the news this week 
that research has shown that animals can regenerate the cells to bring 
back neurological functions. Think of how she must have felt when that 
gave her hope.
  There are a number of very important issues which this body needs to 
consider this summer and this session. There is nothing more important 
to the American people and to this mother than stem cell research.
  In the days ahead, everyone should be on notice that we are going to 
do everything we can to have a debate on stem cell research. If we 
can't find floor time for this, we will have to force it upon this 
body. We must do this. There is limited time. We have to go forward. We 
have waited far too long. The distinguished majority leader is a man of 
his word. He said he would bring this to the Senate floor. I am 
confident and extremely hopeful that he will do that. Lacking that, we 
will have to figure out a way to do it ourselves.
  Thank you, Mr. President.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. 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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