Washington, D.C. – Representative Zoe Lofgren today voted to significantly expand federal funding for life-saving stem cell research, by supporting H.R. 3, the DeGette-Castle Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.  The House passed this critical bill this afternoon by a strong bipartisan vote of 253 to 174.

“By passing Prop 71 in 2004, Californians showed that life-saving stem cell research was an important priority to them.  A majority of my constituents clearly oppose the politicization of scientific research.  The use of embryonic stem cells by scientists in the effort to find curse for some of our most debilitating diseases should be a scientific, not a political decision,” said Rep. Lofgren.  “It is time this groundbreaking research is allowed to move forward throughout the country, and the DeGette-Castle bill allows this to happen.”

The DeGette-Castle bill would expand the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research by lifting the restrictions on the embryonic stem cell lines which can be used for federally-funded research that were imposed by President Bush in 2001.  H.R. 3 only authorizes federal research funds for stem cell lines generated from embryos that would otherwise be discarded by fertility clinics.  The DeGette-Castle bill also creates an ethical framework that must be followed in conducting this research under the guidance of the National Institutes of Health.  This bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives in May of 2005 and the U.S. Senate in July 2006, but was vetoed by President Bush.