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Act Now: Contact Your Senators To Support Expanded Stem Cell Research
Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Subcommittee Ranking Member Arlen Specter (R-PA) have included a provision in the Senate version of the FY 2008 Labor-HHS funding bill that would essentially overturn the President's veto of the stem cell research legislation (S. 5) that was passed earlier this year and make additional embryonic stem cell lines available for federal funding. The language would allow federal research funding on stem cell lines derived before June 15, 2007; current Bush Administration policy allows for federal funds to only be used for research on embryonic stem cell lines derived prior to August 9, 2001. Because the Senate will be considering this language this week, now is the time for all research advocates to contact their Senators and tell them to: support the expansion of federally funded stem cell research; support and the provision in the Labor-HHS funding bill; and oppose any anti-stem cell and anti-research amendments introduced during the debate. To send an e-mail to your Senators, simply complete the "Take Action" information to the right. ASH's on-line advocacy system provides the message and link to your Senators' offices. We encourage you to customize the message to your Senators 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 expansion of federally funded stem cell research by supporting language contained in the Senate version of the FY 2008 Labor-HHS appropriations bill and opposing any anti-stem cell and anti-research amendments introduced during the debate on this bill. This legislation expands current policy by providing for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research on lines derived before June 15, 2007 (current Bush Administration policy allows for federal funds to only be used for research on embryonic stem cell lines derived prior to August 9, 2001). The American public has shown overwhelming support for the expansion of federally funded stem cell research. 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; the language contained in the Senate version of the FY 2008 Labor-HHS bill 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 provision and oppose any anti-stem cell and anti-research amendments introduced during the debate. 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. President Bush vetoed S. 5 on June 20, 2007. While congressional leaders may still attempt to override the President's veto of S. 5 at some point during the 110th Congress, congressional supporters of stem cell research are continuing their efforts to expand federally funded stem cell research in other ways, including inserting language into the FY 2008 Labor-HHS appropriations bill to allow federal research funding on stem cell lines derived before June 15, 2007.
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.
