Washington, DC - Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today urged the Bush Administration to ease restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, which are hampering the potential development of major new treatments for a wide variety of diseases that affect millions of Americans each year. 

The action by Senator Feinstein came as a bipartisan coalition of House Members joined actress Mary Tyler Moore today to release an open letter to President Bush, signed by about 200 Members of Congress, calling on the President to change the current restrictions on embryonic stem cell research.

The following is a statement by Senator Feinstein:

"Embryonic stem cell research offers hope to millions of Americans and their families who are coping with debilitating and deadly diseases such as cancer, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and also conditions such as spinal cord injuries, arthritis and liver damage.

Since President Bush announced his policy in August 2001, the number of stem cell lines available for research and has gone from 78 to 17. The Administration so far has been unwilling to reevaluate its 2001 policy directive limiting Federal funding to stem cell lines that were derived by August 2001, despite recent scientific advances and questions about the viability of existing stem cell lines.

Clearly, these lines of research must be kept open and fully explored in order to find treatments and cures for serious medical conditions. There is great potential for the applications of this research.

It would be a great setback for millions of patients with catastrophic medical conditions to prohibit medical research that offers them the possibility of a cure."