June 7, 2007

Congressman Pitts opposes taxpayer funding for human embryo-destroying research

Congressman Voices Support for Ethical Stem Cell Alternatives

Washington–-Congressman Joe Pitts (R, PA-16) today voted against S. 5, legislation mandating the use of federal tax dollars to destroy human embryos in order to harvest their stem cells for research.  The bill passed in the House, but is expected to be vetoed by President Bush.  The bill did not receive enough votes in the House to override a veto.  Congressman Pitts’ statement follows:

“My position on this issue remains the same.  I support stem cell research, with only one exception:  I don’t support research that requires the destruction of human embryos.  And I certainly don’t support legislation that requires taxpayers to pay for such research.  Fortunately, there are ethical alternatives using non-controversial adult stem cells that are showing greater promise than embryonic stem cells anyway.  I’ve always supported these alternatives, and I will continue to do so.”

Background

S. 5, like similar legislation voted on by Congress in the past, is not a bill to legalize human embryo-destroying stem cell research.  Embryonic stem cell research is already legal in the U.S. and is being conducted at research facilities across the country.  This bill seeks to expand taxpayer funding of embryo-destroying research, a practice millions of taxpayers object to.

Despite all the talk of its great potential, embryonic stem cell research has yet to produce a single cure in humans.  In contrast, research using non-controversial adult stem cells has proven successful in treating 73 different diseases and conditions.  These non-controversial adult stem cells can be found in amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood, fat tissue, spleen tissue, nasal cavity tissue, bone marrow, and other tissues in the body.

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