Today in the Senate

Fund Stem-Cell Study
September 2, 2005

STEM-CELL RESEARCH is one of the most promising areas of biomedical study ever. Many scientists believe the benefits from such research are likely to be as revolutionary as the development of antibiotics. In the not-too-distant future, cures and treatments for a host of debilitating and deadly diseases, including spinal cord injuries, diabetes and Alzheimer's, could be found if stem-cell research gets the funding it needs and deserves. Unfortunately, there is considerable opposition to the use of stem cells from human embryos, which many renown researches say offer the greatest opportunity for medical advances. Opponents of stem-cell research, including President Bush, want to strictly limit federal funding for studies. They believe that destroying embryos amounts to the taking of human life. Such deeply held individual religious and philosophical beliefs no doubt are genuine. However, they should not be the basis of public policy that affects an entire nation, which for more than three decades has made the destruction of human embryos a basic constitutional right. In an effort to break the deadlock over stem-cell research, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has proposed legislation that would expand it while banning cloning embryos. The legislation would allow using stem cells from human embryos conceived in laboratories and that were slated for disposal. Her bill has the support of conservative Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who is a co-sponsor. It also has the strong backing of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who fears that if federal funds are cut off, it would have a negative impact on California, which passed a $3 billion ballot initiative boosting stem-cell research. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., a medical doctor, also has broken ranks with the White House and is open to broadening stem-cell research. Feinstein's bill needs all the bipartisan support it can get, especially if Bush makes good on his threat to use his first veto to kill stem-cell research legislation. California can continue to fund its own research projects, as can private labs. But progress could and should be a lot faster with the support of additional federal funding. It would be tragic for Washington to ban the use of federal money for medical studies that use embryos that are going to be destroyed whether they are used for research or not. There is no excuse for such waste.