    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [June 20, 2007]
    [Pages 775-777]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Returning Without Approval to the Senate the ``Stem Cell
    Research Enhancement Act of 2007''
    June 20, 2007

        Thank you all. Please be seated. Welcome. I'm glad you're here.
    America is a nation that leads the world in science and technology. Our
    innovative spirit is making possible incredible advances in medicine
    that could save lives and cure diseases. America is also a nation
    founded on the principle that all human life is sacred, and our
    conscience calls us to pursue the possibilities of science in a manner
    that respects human dignity and upholds our moral values.
        I appreciate the fact that we're joined by a lot of folks who share
    the deep desire to advance science and, at the same time, uphold our
    moral values. I appreciate the fact that Mike Leavitt is here, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human
    Services. I want to thank the Members of the United States Congress and
    Senate who have joined us. I thank you for taking your time to be here
    on this important announcement today.
        I'm joined on stage by two good docs, really smart, capable people:
    Dr. Bill Hurlbut, professor of Stanford
    University Medical Center; Dr. Don Landry,
    professor at Columbia University Department of Medicine--actually, he's
    the chairman of the department. The reason they're here is, these are
    brilliant biologists who are seeking new ways to develop stem cell lines
    without violating human life. And these are smart folks, and I cannot
    thank them enough for coming to the Oval Office to share with me their
    wisdom and their vision.
        I'm also up here with Carol Franz. She has
    whipped cancer twice by using adult stem cells; in other words, adult
    stem cells have saved her life. She's a determined woman who believes
    strongly that there are different alternatives available to use stem
    cells other than that--those which are created as the result of
    destruction of human life.
        And finally, I'm up here with the McNamara family;
    Kaitlyne is with us. I'm going to talk
    about her in a second.
        I do want to thank the other stem cell patients and researchers and
    advocates who are here with us today. If you're not in any of those
    categories, you're welcome too. [Laughter]
        In 2001, I announced a policy to advance stem cell research in a way
    that is ambitious, ethical, and effective. I became the first President
    to make Federal funds available for embryonic stem cell research, and my
    policy did this in ways that would not encourage the destruction of
    embryos. Since then, my administration has made more than $130 million
    available for research on stem cell lines derived from embryos that had
    already been destroyed. We've provided more than $3 billion for research
    on all forms of stem cells, including those from adult and other
    nonembryonic sources. This careful approach is producing results. It has
    contributed to proven therapeutic treatments in thousands of patients
    with many different diseases. It's opening the prospect of new
    discoveries that could transform lives.
        Congress has sent me a bill that would overturn this policy. If this
    legislation became law, it would compel American taxpayers--for the
    first time in our history--to support the deliberate destruction of
    human embryos. I made it clear to Congress and to the American people
    that I will not allow our Nation to cross this moral line. Last year,
    Congress passed a similar bill. I kept my promise by vetoing it. And
    today I'm keeping my word again: I am vetoing the bill that Congress has
    sent.
        Destroying human life in the hopes of saving human life is not
    ethical, and it is

    [[Page 776]]

    not the only option before us. We're already seeing remarkable advances
    in the science and therapeutic uses of stem cells drawn from adults and
    children and the blood from umbilical cords, with no harm to the donor.
    Researchers value embryonic stem cells because they are pluripotent,
    which means that they have the potential to develop into nearly all the
    cell types and tissues in the body. Researchers are now developing
    promising new techniques that offer the potential to produce pluripotent
    stem cells without having to destroy human life.
        For example, several new studies released earlier this month showed
    the potential of reprogramming adult cells, such as skin cells, to make
    them function like embryonic stem cells. It's exciting new research
    taking place in the United States of America. Scientists from all over
    the country hailed this as an important breakthrough. And I'm pleased to
    report to you that my administration and the NIH helped fund this
    exciting work. The taxpayers' dollars are going to new kinds of
    therapies, new kinds of science, new kinds of work that do not cross a
    moral and ethical line.
        A few months earlier, scientists discovered that cells extracted
    from amniotic fluid and placentas could also provide stem cells that
    seem to do what embryonic cells can. Still other researchers are
    investigating how to combine reprogramming and other innovative
    techniques to produce stem cells with the abilities of embryonic stem
    cells, without creating or destroying embryos. It's a lot of interesting
    work going on that's ethical and moral. Scientists are exploring ways to
    collect stem cells in the same manner that doctors now rescue organs
    from patients who have died.
        With us today are patients who are benefiting from ethical stem cell
    research, including Kaitlyne McNamara.
    Kaitlyne was born with spina bifida, a disease that damaged her bladder.
    None of the treatments her doctor tried had worked; she was in danger of
    kidney failure. Then her doctors took a piece of her bladder, isolated
    the healthy stem cells, and used them to grow a new bladder in a
    laboratory, which they then transplanted into her. And here she stands,
    healthy. Scientific advances like this one are important and should give
    us hope that there's a better way forward than scientific advances that
    require the destruction of a human life.
        The researchers pursuing these kinds of ethically responsible
    advances deserve our support, and there is legislation in Congress to
    give them that support. Recently, the United States Senate passed a bill
    sponsored by Norm Coleman and others that would
    authorize additional Federal funding for alternative stem cell research.
    The bill was approved with the backing of 70 United States Senators. The
    House leaders need to pass similar legislation that would authorize
    additional funds for ethical stem cell research. That would be an
    important advancement. It would be an important statement, because we
    can't lose the opportunity to conduct research that would give hope to
    those suffering from terrible diseases and help this country move beyond
    the controversies over embryo destruction.
        We have a good chance to put aside all the politics and focus on a
    good piece of legislation that advances science and doesn't cross an
    ethical line. Norm, I want to thank you and
    Johnny Isakson for sponsoring that piece of
    legislation.
        In the meantime, my administration is taking immediate action to
    increase our support for researchers in their vital work. Earlier today,
    I issued an Executive order to strengthen our Nation's commitment to
    research on pluripotent stem cells. This order takes a number of
    important steps. The order directs the Department of Health and Human
    Services and the NIH to ensure that any human pluripotent stem cell
    lines produced in ways that do not create, destroy, or harm human
    embryos will be eligible for Federal funding.
        The order expands the NIH Embryonic Stem Cell registry to include
    all types of

    [[Page 777]]

    ethically produced human pluripotent stem cells. The order renames the
    registry--calls it this, the Pluripotent Stem Cell Registry--so it
    reflects what stem cells can do, instead of where they come from. The
    order invites scientists to work with the NIH so we can add new,
    ethically derived stem cell lines to the list of those eligible for
    Federal funding. I direct Secretary Leavitt to conduct an assessment of
    what resources will be necessary to support this important new research.
        This science, that does not cross ethical lines, requires money. I
    believe it is a good use of taxpayers' money to spend money on this kind
    of science and research. And Michael is
    going to expedite it, that's what that means; it's a fancy paragraph for
    saying he's going to get it done. [Laughter]
        With these steps, we'll encourage scientists to expand the frontiers
    of stem cell research. We want to encourage science. We want to say, we
    stand on your side in an ethically responsible way. Scientists have
    recently shown they have the ingenuity and skill to pursue the potential
    benefits of pluripotent stem cell research. Here's two of them right here. That's
    why they're standing here; they have showed what's possible. I have
    confidence in their abilities to continue to develop new techniques.
    With our expanded support of nondestructive research methods, we'll make
    it more likely that these exciting advances continue to unfold.
        Technical innovation in this difficult area is opening up new
    possibilities for progress without conflict or ethical controversy. So I
    invite policymakers and scientists to come together to speed our Nation
    toward the destination we all seek, where medical problems can be solved
    without compromising either the high aims of science or the sanctity of
    human life.
        Thank you all for coming. May God bless.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:39 p.m. in the East Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to S. 5, S. 30, and Executive Order
    13435.