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Please Contact Congress to Urge Support of Legislation on Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Please help the American Society of Hematology’s (ASH’s) advocacy efforts by contacting your Senators and Representative in support of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 (S 471/HR 810). This legislation provides for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research on lines derived after August 9, 2001, and requires strong ethical guidelines for implementation. The House Leadership has agreed to hold a vote on the embryonic stem cell issue before July 1, 2005. This is a major step forward for embryonic stem cell research supporters—the House has been a major barrier to addressing the issue of expanding the number of eligible embryonic stem cell research lines. In the Senate, supporters believe that they have enough votes to approve the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. Now is the time to contact your Senators and Representative and ask them to cosponsor S 471/HR 810. Most likely, this will be the only opportunity to address expanding the number of embryonic stem cell lines eligible for federal research funding in the near future. Your help is urgently needed to secure more House and Senate cosponsors. Please take action by emailing the letter below to your Members of Congress. Thank you. Please direct any questions to ASH Government Affairs Manager Jeff Coughlin at jcoughlin@hematology.org or (202) 776-0544.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , As a hematologist, I am interested in expanding the current federal policy on embryonic stem cell research to allow scientists to explore the full promise of this field. From a purely scientific perspective, with more human embryonic stem cell lines available for federal funding, there will be new opportunities for scientific advancement that will potentially benefit patients. I urge you to cosponsor Senators Specter and Harkin and Representatives Castle and DeGette's Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 (S 471/HR 810). This legislation provides for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research on lines derived after August 9, 2001, and requires strong ethical guidelines on stem cell lines that are eligible for federally-funded research. Embryonic stem cell research will 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. Nearly 4 years after the current federal policy was implemented, there are only 22 embryonic stem cell lines available for federal funding. Research in this area has slowed to pace that is unacceptable to patients who are suffering. The current federal embryonic stem cell research policy needs to expand to help researchers find a cure for over 100 million Americans who suffer from many deadly and debilitating diseases. I would greatly appreciate your support of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 (S 471/HR 810). Please contact me if I can provide additional information to you.
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 the date of the President’s announcement. 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, in 2005, there are only 22 embryonic stem cell lines that 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 of 2005 (S 471/HR 810) was introduced in the House and Senate on February 16, 2005. In the House, Representatives Mike Castle (R-DE) and Diana DeGette (D-CO), introduced their bill along with over 150 cosponsors, while Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced the same bill in the Senate along with four bipartisan colleagues, Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Gordon Smith (R-OR), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). This legislation provides for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research on lines derived after August 9, 2001, and requires strong ethical guidelines on stem cell lines that are eligible for federally-funded research.
The bill states that no federal funds will be used to derive stem cells or destroy early-stage embryos. In addition, it directs the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to support appropriate research on stem cell lines derived from early-stage embryos that also meet the following criteria: originally created for fertility treatment purposes and are in excess of clinical need; would otherwise be discarded; and, the individuals for whom the embryos were created have provided written consent for embryo donation.
ASH’s policy in support of all avenues of stem cell research is available online.
We encourage you to customize your email to your Senators and Representative 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.
