Pelosi: ‘Stem Cell Research Will Give Hope to Millions of Americans who Suffer from Devastating Illnesses’

Pelosi: ‘Stem Cell Research Will Give Hope to Millions of Americans who Suffer from Devastating Illnesses’

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Contact: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. â€" Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on H.R. 3, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007, which passed on the floor with bipartisan support by a vote of 253-174:

â€Å"Today, by passing legislation to expand stem cell research, the House gave voice to the hopes of more than 100 million Americans and their families.

â€Å"With the great potential of embryonic stem cell research, science has the power to answer the prayers of America’s families. We must unlock the promise for stem cell therapies to alleviate human suffering and to cure diseases, including diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, and cancer.

â€Å"The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 will expand federal funding for enormously promising embryonic stem cell research, using stem cell lines generated from embryos that would have otherwise been discarded by fertility clinics. Unlike President Bush’s current policy, this legislation includes strong ethical guidelines for conducting stem cell research.

â€Å"With today’s strong bipartisan vote, we now challenge President Bush to join members from both sides of the aisle in supporting the hope of stem cell research. Democrats and Republicans have joined together today to urge the President to sign this vital legislation into law.”