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Stem Cell Research

On March 9, 2009, President Obama reversed a policy instituted by former President George W. Bush in August 2001, which funded research on already-existing stem cell lines without encouraging any further destruction of human life. I do not agree with President Obama decision to turn living members of the human species into raw material for research.

I support stem cell research using adult, cord bloods, and amniotic stem cells. I do not, however, support destroying life in the name of research. I believe that embryos, as human life, should be treated and valued with the same respect as you and me.

Human embryonic stem cell research is completely legal today in the private sector. Embryonic stem cell research is eligible for state funding in several states, including Michigan, California and New Jersey, and is funded through millions in private dollars. Since August 2001, 128 stem cell lines have been created. Even President Bush allowed for limited federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. The National Institute of Health (NIH) spent an estimated $88 million on embryonic stem cell research in Fiscal Year 2008. Despite this investment, embryonic stem cell research remains unproven. Not a single therapy has been developed from embryonic stem cell research. Instead of cures, embryonic stem cell research has led to tumors and deaths in animal studies. There have been no published treatments in human patients using embryonic stem cells.

While the promise of embryonic stem cells is questionable, the promise of adult stem cell research is being realized today – adult stem cells are being used today to save lives. Recognizing this, the National Institute of Health spent over $800 million in Fiscal Year 2008 on adult stem cell research. Adult stem cells are being used today in clinical trials and in clinical practice to treat 72 diseases including, Parkinson’s disease, Spinal Cord injury, Juvenile Diabetes, brain cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma, heart damage, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis, stroke, and sickle cell anemia.

I am committed to funding scientific research that will unlock the origins of diseases and develop cures. We cannot let science leap-frog our ethics, our morals, and our responsibility to protect human life at every stage of development.