Etheridge votes to expand stem cell research


Washington, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) voted yesterday to expand federally funded stem cell research.

The House passed H.R. 3, The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 with bipartisan support.

“Simply put, research saves lives,” said Etheridge. “These stem cells, which would otherwise be destroyed, hold the potential to end illness and improve lives for millions of Americans.”

H.R. 3 directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to fund stem cell research. It also requires the Secretary to provide ethics guidelines and safeguards for the research. Embryonic stem cells have the ability to develop into virtually any cell in the body and may have the potential to treat medical conditions such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and cancer.

“For me and many other North Carolinians, this is not only an important policy matter, but it’s personal as well. My college basketball coach, a friend and mentor for several decades is a victim of Alzheimer’s disease. Others I am close to suffer from Lou Gehrig’s disease,” said Etheridge.

“After prayerful consideration, I have arrived at the strong conclusion that we must allow the ethical advance of research to relieve human suffering.”

In August of 2000 the National Institute of Health published ethically sound guidelines governing federal funding of stem cell research. On August 9, 2002, the Bush Administration issued its own guidelines for embryonic stem cell research, which allow federal funds to be used for research on 64 already existing stem cell lines only. The bill would override the Administration’s guidelines.

Congress passed identical legislation in the 109th session to expand stem cell research but the President vetoed it.