Support Stem Cell Research Funding -- Contact the House Today

Support Stem Cell Research Funding -- Contact the House Today

Nancy Pelosi is working hard to push her 100 Hours agenda through Congress -- and we're working hard to keep up! We'll be asking a lot of you in these first 100 hours, but that's because we have real opportunities for victories. As we write this, the House is expected to pass a bill increasing the federal minimum wage, which we hope will pass the Senate next week. Next on their agenda and ours is stem cell funding and, with your help, we can secure a victory on this issue as well!

Action Needed:

H.R. 3, a bill to support human embryonic stem cell research, will be on the House floor as early as Thursday, January 11. This bipartisan bill, the "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007," is co-sponsored by DeGette (D-Colo.) and Castle (R-Del.) and has 211 sponsors. We need 290+ Members of the House voting for H.R. 3 to show the President that this bill is veto-proof. Please call or e-mail your representative TODAY.

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Under current law and administrative policy, too few healthy embryonic stem cell lines are eligible for use, drastically limiting the extent of scientific and life-saving research on the potential use of embryonic stem cells to treat the debilitating diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, cancer, and diabetes. Frozen and discarded embryos that are slated for destruction must not be used as "poster cells" by the anti-woman, anti-family planning, anti-health-research religious zealots who value unused zygotes over live children and real cures. H.R. 2 has the potential for expanding life-enhancing and life-saving treatment.

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Background:

Stem cell research has been on the table since the late '90's and has been the subject of much recent debate. In August 2001, President Bush opposed new and expanded stem cell research and permitted federally funded research for only a handful of pre-existing embryonic stem cell lines. As a result of this strict limitation, only 60 stem cell lines were available for study and only 20 or so of them are viable today. In order to redress this strict -- and some say inhumane -- policy, bipartisan legislation has been introduced to promote expanding stem cell scientific and medical research.

Stem cells from frozen embryos that are not used by their donors and are subsequently discarded from fertility clinics could potentially treat and cure a number of debilitating and life-threatening diseases. Unlike adult stem cells, umbilical cord, or amniotic stem cells, embryonic stem cells can differentiate into specialized cells, like heart, nerve or skin cells. They have the highest potential for regenerating damaged or malfunctioning cells in people with diseases and paralytic injuries.

And while the debate against this research and the legislation has largely been driven by abortion rights opponents and advocates, 58% of Roman Catholics have expressed support for stem cell research.

Last year, Congress passed a bipartisan bill to support this research, but the President used his first-ever veto to prevent its enactment into law. President Bush simply ignored the majority bipartisan support for stem cell research, exhibiting a disdain for the rights of women and men to choose donation over destruction of their unused frozen embryos. This year's newly-installed House leadership has vowed to reverse this action by passing H.R. 3, citing bipartisan support and backing from a majority of the public when asked. A 2004 poll found that almost nine out of ten Americans know someone who could benefit from the development of stem cell technology.

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Resources:

Read the text of the bill
Des Moines Register talks to Senator Tom Harkin
CNN story about Bush stem cell veto
Report from the Guttmacher Institute: Embryonic Stem Cell Research -- Old Controversy; New Debate