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Help ASH Advocate for Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act
Help ASH reach out to the Senate to support stem cell research! One year after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (HR 810), the U.S. Senate still has been unsuccessful in moving forward with a vote on this legislation. Right now opponents of embryonic stem cell research are discussing introducing seven alternative stem cell bills that are intended to cloud the debate and obstruct support for HR 810. HR 810 would expand the current federal policy on embryonic stem cell research by allowing federal funding on stem cell lines derived after August 9, 2001. This bill also establishes strict ethical guidelines for this field of research by requiring that federal funds not be used to derive stem cells or destroy embryos. ASH policy calls for support of federal funding of all avenues of stem cell research under National Institutes of Health federal research guidelines and with appropriate public oversight. Now it is critical that embryonic stem cell research supporters send a clear and consistent message to the Senate—Approve HR 810 with no amendments and with no other measures that restrict any avenue of stem cell-related research. To send a letter to your Senators, simply click the "Take Action" button below. ASH’s on-line advocacy system identifies your Senators for you and provides the message. 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. If you have questions, or need more information, please contact ASH Government Affairs Manager Jeff Coughlin at jcoughlin@hematology.org or (202) 776-0544.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , I urge you to support the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (HR 810) with no amendments when it comes to the Senate floor for a vote. This legislation expands current policy by providing 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. In addition, with several alternative stem cell-related bills under consideration, I ask you to not support the additional measures that restrict any avenue of stem cell research. As a hematologist, I support HR 810 because 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. 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. Investigation into the transplantability and differentiation of embryonic stem cells has the potential to lead to the next generation of important therapies for a broad range of intractable diseases. After four years under President Bush's restrictive federal policy, there are only 22 embryonic stem cell lines available for federal funding. Research in this area has slowed to pace that is unacceptable; HR 810 will reinvigorate embryonic stem cell research in this country for the benefit of patients who are suffering. 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. I would greatly appreciate your support of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (HR 810) with no amendments when it comes to the Senate floor for a vote. 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 restrictive, 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 (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.
The House of Representatives approved HR 810 by a 238 to 194 vote on Tuesday, May 24. On Friday, July 29, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, MD (R-TN), provided a huge boost to embryonic stem cell research supporters by announcing his support for HR 810.
On October 21, 2005, Senator Specter reached an agreement with Majority Leader Frist to postpone Senate debate on HR 810 until early next year when the bill can be a priority item for the Senate to consider. Until this agreement was achieved, Senator Specter was working to force a vote on HR 810 before Congress adjourned for the year.
In the Senate, opponents of embryonic stem cell research are developing plans to introduce seven alternative stem cell bills to try and complicate the debate over approving HR 810. The following measures involving stem cell research are being developed in the Senate: unite the cord blood and bone marrow networks; move the embryonic stem cell derivation cut-off date from August 9, 2001, to 2005; increase research into unproven methods of extracting stem cells without destroying human embryos; anti-nuclear transfer legislation; and, an anti-chimera bill.
The Senate parliamentary rules allow for all of these bills to be brought up during the debate on HR 810. First and foremost, the Society would like to see the Senate approve HR 810, although there are several other stem cell related-bills that the Society supports. Majority Leader Frist’s support of HR 810 should help ensure that support for expanding federal funding of embryonic stem cell research will not be obstructed by these other bills during Senate debate.
Now it is critical that embryonic stem cell research supporters contact their Senators to urge approval of HR 810.
The Senate is expected to take up HR 810 early in 2006. Since President Bush has repeatedly said that he will veto this legislation, a strong showing in the Senate is even more important. Please help ASH by participating in this advocacy campaign.
