Bass, Bradley Support Bill to Expand Stem Cell Research
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 -Both House members from New Hampshire on Wednesday threw their weight behind a bill that would expand federal funds for embryonic stem cell research. Their Senate colleagues have opposed such legislation in the past.
“Every year thousands of Americans die from illnesses that embryonic stem cell research could potentially prevent, treat and cure,” Rep. Charles Bass said in a written statement. “The legislation introduced today is crucial to our community because it would lift some of these restrictions and pave the way for medical breakthroughs for many debilitating, painful and deadly diseases.”
Under the legislation introduced this week by Rep. Michael Castle (R-Del.) and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Col.), the number of embryonic stem cells that receive federal funding would be expanded beyond those in existence before August 2001, when President Bush instituted a moratorium on funding for new cells.
If enacted, funding would go only to research on stem cells donated by in vitro fertilization clinics with the written consent of the patients stating that the cells were no longer needed and would have otherwise been discarded.
Rep. Jeb Bradley said Wednesday that he hopes the expansion of the pool will bring about cures to deadly or disabling diseases.
“When President Bush announced his policy on restricting federal funding for stem cell research in 2001, 78 stem cell lines existed,” Bradley said in a statement. “Today, the National Institutes of Health lists only 22 lines available for research. This legislation will give federal researchers access to other available stem cell lines, enabling them to conduct research on a variety of incurable medical ailments, such as juvenile diabetes, paralysis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, as well as many others.”
In backing the bill, Bradley and Bass, both of whom co-sponsored it when it was originally filed last year, have separated themselves from their Senate colleagues on this issue. In the past, both Sens. Judd Gregg and John Sununu have opposed opening up new lines of embryonic stem cells to federal research dollars.
” Companion legislation.has not been introduced in the Senate at this time. Should that happen, Sen. Gregg will look forward to reviewing any legislative proposals,” Gregg’s spokeswoman, Erin Rath, said in a written statement. “Sen. Gregg believes that embryonic stem cell research is an exciting new field of science that continues to develop and has the potential to lead to real benefits as we fight a variety of diseases. However, it is also an area that raises serious ethical issues since living embryos must be destroyed in order to pursue embryonic stem cell research.”
A spokeswoman for Bass dismissed concerns about a difference of opinion between the House and Senate members.
“Typically in the New Hampshire delegation the congressmen and senators have worked together very well,” said Margo Shideler, Bass’s press secretary. “Definitely there have been times in the past where members have disagreed on issues, but this has not harmed the relationship, and we look forward to a close relationship in the future.”
Shideler would not comment on whether Bass would urge the senators to support this bill. “He is more focused on what happens in the House right now.”
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