DeGette, Castle Call On Presidential Nominees To Support Expansion Of Federal Role In Stem Cell Research
WASHINGTON -- U.S.Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy andCommerce, and Michael Castle (R-DE), both chief architects of therecently introduced Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2008 (HR 7141), sent the following letter to both presidential candidates, Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain, applaudingtheir past support for overturning President Bush's August 2001directive, and urging their support, from either the Senate or theWhite House, for removing existing federal barriers to funding andexpansion of embryonic stem cell research, and working to put in placean overarching ethical federal framework to guide all stem cellresearch.
Text of the letter is as follows:
"It has been several years since the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act(H.R. 810 in the 109th Congress and H.R. 3 in the 110th Congress) wasinitially written, passed, and vetoed and science has progressed at afaster pace than we in Congress could ever have imagined. Weappreciate your support of S. 5 and are encouraged by continuedprogress both in the fields of embryonic stem cell research and adultstem cell research. In the face of fragmented state and privateresearch that is currently being undertaken, we also recognize the needfor strong federal leadership by the National Institutes of Health(NIH) in carrying out a continued ethical stem cell research program inorder to realize the full potential for stem cell therapies. We arewriting to emphasize the importance of your consistent support, fromeither the Senate or the White House, for removing existing federalbarriers to funding and expansion of embryonic stem cell research, andworking to put in place an overarching ethical federal framework toguide all stem cell research.
"Looking to 2009, we recently reworked S.5 / H.R. 3 to ensure it iscurrent with the ever-expanding field of stem cell research and tobring the NIH back to the forefront of stem cell research worldwide. Our goal in introducing H.R. 7141, the "Stem Cell Research EnhancementAct of 2008," is to help guide the discussion over the next severalmonths, as we prepare for a new Congress and Administration.
"The top priority in this new legislation was to retain the integrityand language of H.R. 3 – specifically, to expand the federal policy onembryonic stem cell research and set forth ethical requirements. Thegoal was to expand the scope of H.R. 3 to allow for NIH to establishguidelines for carrying out all stem cell research (not just embryonic)as scientifically warranted. With this change, the NIH will be able toestablish guidelines for the research based on scientific needs andadvances. Although numerous entities have published guidelines forstem cell research, there is currently no overarching set of federalguidelines to serve as the gold standard. As a result, scientists mustconstantly worry about meeting a patchwork of ethical requirements. Recognizing the link between beginning basic scientific research andthe potential for eventual clinical trials using stem cellapplications, this new legislation encourages the NIH and Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) to communicate on this important area of research.
"We have lost valuable time since the President's Directive in 2001. With the many recent advances in stem cell techniques, it is imperativewe allow all forms to flourish; scientists, not politicians, shoulddecide which techniques have the best potential for progress indeveloping therapies.
"Medical and scientific research, including embryonic stem cellresearch, holds great promise for alleviating the suffering of the 100million American patients who are living with devastating diseases --from Parkinson's disease to spinal cord injuries to diabetes -- forwhich there are no good treatments or cures. A strong federal role incarrying out such research is critical. We remain committed to drivingthis issue in the next Congress and with the new Administration to forman expanded and comprehensive federal policy for all stem cellresearch."