    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [May 24, 2005]
    [Pages 868-869]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Bioethics
    May 24, 2005

        Thank you all. Please be seated. Good afternoon, and welcome to the
    White House.
        I have just met with 21 remarkable families. Each of them has
    answered the call to ensure that our society's most vulnerable members
    are protected and defended at every stage of life.
        The families here today have either adopted or given up for adoption
    frozen embryos that remained after fertility treatments. Rather than
    discard these embryos created during in vitro fertilization or turn them
    over for research that destroys them, these families have chosen a life-
    affirming alternative. Twenty-one children here today found a chance for
    life with loving parents.

        I believe America must pursue the tremendous possibilities of
    science, and I believe we can do so while still fostering and
    encouraging respect for human life in all its stages. In the complex
    debate over
    embryonic stem cell research, we must
    remember that real human lives are involved--both the lives of those
    with diseases that might find cures from this research and the lives of
    the embryos that will be destroyed in the process. The children here
    today are reminders that every human life is a precious gift of
    matchless value.
        I appreciate Mike Leavitt, Department
    of Health and Human Services, for being here. He's the Secretary of the
    Department of Health and Human Services. I picked a really good man to
    take on this assignment. He's doing a fine job.
        I want to thank the executive director of Nightlight Christian
    Adoptions, Ron Stoddart, for joining us today.
    Welcome. I want to thank Lori Maze, the director
    of Snowflakes Frozen Embryo Adoption Program. Welcome, Lori. Thank you
    for coming. And thank you all for being here.
        The rapid advance of science presents us with the hope of eventual
    cures for terrible diseases and with profound moral and ethical
    dilemmas. The decisions we make today will have far-reaching
    consequences, so we must aggressively move forward with medical research
    while also maintaining the highest ethical standards.
        Research on stem cells derived from human embryos may offer great
    promise, but the way those cells are derived today destroys the embryo.
    I share the hope of millions of Americans who desperately want to find
    treatments and cures for terrible diseases such as juvenile diabetes and
    Parkinson's disease. That is why my administration completing--completed
    the doubling of the NIH budget to $29 billion a year, to encourage
    research. I also made

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    available for the first time Federal funds for embryonic stem cell
    research in order to explore the potential of these cells.
        But I also recognize the grave moral issues at stake. So in August
    2000-first--2001, I set forward a policy to advance stem cell research
    in a responsible way by funding research on stem cell lines derived only
    from embryos that had already been destroyed. This policy set a clear
    standard: We should not use public money to support the further
    destruction of human life.
        Under this policy, we have supported a great deal of ethical
    research. About 600 shipments of eligible stem cell lines are already
    being used by researchers across the country, and over 3,000 more
    shipments are still available. We've increased funding for all forms of
    stem cell research by more than 80 percent since I took office. A
    tremendous amount of both public and private research is underway in
    America on embryonic as well as adult stem cells and stem cells from
    umbilical cord blood.
        Today the House of Representatives is considering a bill that
    violates the clear standard I set 4 years ago. This bill would take us
    across a critical ethical line by creating new incentives for the
    ongoing destruction of emerging human life. Crossing this line would be
    a great mistake.
        Even now, researchers are exploring alternative sources of stem
    cells, such as adult bone marrow and umbilical cord blood as well as
    different ethical ways of getting the same kind of cells now taken from
    embryos, without violating human life or dignity. With the right
    policies and the right techniques, we can pursue scientific progress
    while still fulfilling our moral duties.
        I want to thank Nightlight Christian Adoptions for their good work.
    Nightlight's embryo adoption program has now matched over 200 biological
    parents with about 140 adoptive families, resulting in the birth of 81
    children so far, with more on the way.
        The children here today remind us that there is no such thing as a
    spare embryo. Every embryo is unique and genetically complete, like
    every other human being. And each of us started out our life this way.
    These lives are not raw material to be exploited, but gifts. And I
    commend each of the families here today for accepting the gift of these
    children and offering them the gift of your love.
        Thank you for coming today. By the way, we're having a little
    birthday gathering just in a second for Tanner and Noelle. You all are
    invited to partake in a little birthday cake. [Laughter] In the
    meantime, may God bless you and your families, and may God continue to
    bless our country. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:07 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to birthday guests Tanner Brinkman
    and Noelle Faulk.