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Act Now: Contact President Bush About Stem Cell Legislation
Earlier this year, the House and Senate each passed their respective versions of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (H.R. 3 and S. 5). Slight differences between the two bills necessitated reconsideration by the House, which passed S. 5 on June 7. The bill will now be sent to the White House for President Bush's consideration. The President has indicated his intention to veto the bill. If vetoed, the Senate will try to override. Now is the time for all research advocates to contact the White House to let President Bush know the importance of S. 5 and our anger and frustration if this is not enacted into law. To send an e-mail to President Bush, simply complete the "Take Action" information to the right. ASH's on-line advocacy system provides the message and link to the White House. We encourage you to customize the message to President Bush as much as possible, emphasizing (1) your positive feelings about embryonic stem cell research, and (2) how expanding this research beyond the number of currently approved lines will benefit patients. We also encourage you to forward this message to colleagues and friends to increase participation.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , As a hematologist, I write to urge you to support the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (S. 5) and ensure that it is signed into law. This legislation expands current policy by providing for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research on lines derived after August 9, 2001 and it requires strong ethical guidelines for research. The American public has shown overwhelming support for this legislation. After six years under the current restrictive federal policy, there are only 21 embryonic stem cell lines available for federal funding. Research in this area has slowed to pace that is unacceptable; S. 5 will reinvigorate embryonic stem cell research in this country for the benefit of patients who are suffering. Embryonic stem cell research could make a major difference in the fight against many blood and blood-related diseases, in addition to cancer, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, diabetes, and spinal cord injuries. Hematologists are poised to contribute research on embryonic stem cells that has the potential to lead to the next generation of important therapies for a broad range of intractable diseases. Again, I urge you to support this bill and ensure that it is signed into law. The current federal embryonic stem cell research policy needs to expand to help researchers find treatments and cures for over 100 million Americans who suffer from many deadly and debilitating diseases.
Sincerely, |
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| Background Information |
On August 9, 2001, the Bush Administration announced a policy to permit limited funding of embryonic stem cell research, by allowing federal funds to only be used for research on embryonic stem cell lines derived prior to that date. At the time, several scientists advised President Bush that there were about 60 viable cell lines in existence and they would be sufficient for investigators to advance the embryonic stem cell field. However, there are only 21 embryonic stem cell lines that are available to researchers, and they have been found to be contaminated with mouse cells or mouse cell products. The President's policy has proven too limiting, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) now admits that expanding this policy will help speed embryonic stem cell research initiatives.
The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (H.R. 3/S. 5) was introduced in the House and Senate in January. The House of Representatives approved H.R. 3 on January 11, 2007 by a vote of 253 to 174. The Senate passed a slightly modified version of the bill on April 11, 2007 by a vote of 63 to 34. Because of differences between the House and Senate bills, the House reconsidered and voted on S. 5 on June 7, 2007 and passed S. 5 by a vote of 247-176. The bill will now be sent to the President, who has indicated that he will once again veto this legislation, thus setting the stage for a possible vote in the Senate to override the presidential veto. It is critical that President Bush hears a strong message of support for this bill from researchers across the nation.
ASH's policy in support of all avenues of stem cell research and the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISCCR) Guidelines for the Conduct of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research, which ASH has endorsed, are available online.
