DeGette, Castle Praise Executive Order To Remove Federal Restrictions On Stem Cell Research

WASHINGTON – U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Michael Castle (R-DE),chief architects of bipartisan legislation expanding stem cellresearch, today praised President Barack Obama for signing an ExecutiveOrder overturning former President Bush's restrictions on federalfunding of embryonic stem cell research. This decision comes afterU.S. Reps. DeGette and Castle led a bipartisan group of legislators inwriting a letter to President Obama urging he swiftly undo thesestifling regulations by Executive Order.

"This Executive Order is long overdue and will finally bring hope tomillions of patients and their families," said DeGette, Vice Chair ofthe Committee on Energy and Commerce and co-chair of the CongressionalDiabetes Caucus. "For over eight years, progress on embryonic stem cellresearch has been stymied due to stubborn politicians who put politicsabove science. Researchers and scientists can now begin to unlock thecures for thousands of life-threatening diseases with potentiallife-saving techniques. I applaud President Obama for lifting theserestrictions that will immediately allow this research to move forward.However, this is only the first step. Congress must quickly passcomplementary legislation so that no future anti-science Administrationwill be able to hinder progress. I look forward to working with mycolleagues in Congress, President Obama, and my partner in this fight,Mike Castle, to ensure that we have a robust science program in thiscountry."

"Today begins the dawn of a new era in biomedical research in theUnited States, which holds so much promise for millions of Americans,"said Rep. Castle, lead Republican proponent of expanding federalfunding for embryonic stem cell research. "I could not be more thrilledwith President Obama's decision today to lift the restrictions onfederal funding for embryonic stem cell research, a change I haveactively pushed over the last five years. Since 2001, we have fought along battle in Congress to expand federal funding for embryonic stemcell research, only to face two vetoes from the Bush Administration andsee scientific research stifled. Today's executive order removes acritical roadblock, but we must not allow this momentum to fade. Congress absolutely must not delay in codifying the directive toprevent science from being subject to the whim of politics. Strongleadership at the NIH remains vitally important for promoting basicscience and I look forward to working with Congresswoman DeGette ingathering a bipartisan, bicameral consensus for finally signing intolaw complimentary legislation."

U.S. Reps. DeGette and Castle have passed two bipartisan pieces oflegislation, under a Republican and Democratic-controlled Congress,repealing former President Bush's restrictions, which ultimately becamethe first the third vetoes of his presidency. They will host a pressconference call at 1:45PM EST/11:45AM EST to discuss the president'sExecutive Order. Interested participants should call 641-715-3630 andenter code 515982#.