[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 33 (Monday, August 20, 2001)]
[Pages 1153-1154]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

August 11, 2001

    Good morning. This week I made a decision on a complex and difficult 
issue, the Federal role in embryonic stem cell research. Based on 
preliminary work, scientists believe these cells, which may have the 
ability to replace diseased or defective human tissue, offer great 
promise. They could help improve the lives of those who suffer from many 
terrible diseases--from juvenile diabetes to Alzheimer's, from 
Parkinson's to spinal cord injuries.
    While stem cells come from a variety of sources, most scientists, at 
least today, believe that research on stem cells from human embryos 
offers the most promise because these cells have the potential to 
develop into all the tissues of the body.
    This research offers great hope for treatments and possible cures. 
Research on embryonic stem cells also raises profound ethical questions 
because extracting the stem cell destroys the embryo and thus destroys 
the potential for life.
    Some argue this small cluster of cells is not yet a human life 
because it cannot develop on its own. Yet an ethicist argued, this is 
the same way you and I started our lives. ``One goes with a heavy heart 
if we use these,'' he said, ``because we are dealing with the seeds of 
the next generation.''
    At its core, this issue forces us to confront fundamental questions 
about the beginnings of life and the ends of science. It lies at a 
difficult moral intersection, juxtaposing the need to protect life in 
all its phases with the prospect of saving and improving life in all its 
stages. As the genius of science extends the horizons of what we can do, 
we increasingly confront complex problems about what we should do.
    In recent weeks we learned that scientists have created human 
embryos in test tubes solely to experiment on them. This is deeply 
troubling and a warning sign that should prompt all of us to think 
through these issues very carefully. We recoil at the idea of growing 
human beings for spare body parts or creating life for our convenience. 
I strongly oppose cloning. And while we must devote enormous energy to 
conquering disease, it is equally important that we pay attention to the 
moral concerns raised by the new frontier of human embryo stem cell 
research. Even the most noble ends do not justify any means.
    Embryonic stem cell research offers both great promise and great 
peril, so I have decided we must proceed with great care. As a result of 
private research, more than 60 genetically diverse stem cell lines 
already exist. They were created from embryos that have already been 
destroyed, and they have the ability to regenerate themselves 
indefinitely, creating ongoing opportunities for research. I have 
concluded that we should allow Federal funds to be used for research on 
these existing stem cell lines where the life and death decision has 
already been made.
    Leading scientists tell me research on these 60 lines has great 
promise that could lead to breakthrough therapies and cures. This allows 
us to explore the promise and potential of stem cell research without 
crossing a fundamental moral line by providing taxpayer funding that 
would sanction or encourage further destruction of human embryos that 
have at least the potential for life.
    I also believe that great scientific progress can be made through 
aggressive Federal funding of research on umbilical cord, placenta, 
adult, and animal stem cells, which do not involve the same moral 
dilemma. This year the Government will spend $250 million on this 
important research.
    As we go forward, I hope we'll always be guided by both intellect 
and heart, by both our capabilities and our conscience. I have made this 
decision with great care, and I pray it is the right one.

[[Page 1154]]

    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 9:40 a.m. on August 10 at the Bush 
Ranch in Crawford, TX, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on August 11. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
August 10 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast.