Senate to debate stem-cell bills
By William L. Watts, MarketWatch
Last Update: 2:28 PM ET Jul 12, 2006
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WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The Senate will vote next week on three bills related to stem-cell research, including legislation that would increase federal funding for research that uses cells from human embryos, despite a veto threat from President Bush.
"The Senate will take up the three stem cell bills on Monday, July 17, and will complete all action by Tuesday, July 18," Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said on Wednesday, in a written statement. "There's tremendous promise in stem cell research, and I've worked long and hard with my colleagues to bring this serious ethical issue to the floor in a way that encourages thoughtful discussion and deliberation."
A bill passed by the House in May of last year would ease some of the White House's restrictions on federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research. Frist last year surprised colleagues by announcing that the Senate would act on a version of that bill before the end of the current legislative session.
The Senate version, authored by Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., would require the federal government to support research using stem cells from excess embryos created as part of fertility treatments and that were due to otherwise be discarded. The written consent of the embryo donors would also be required. The White House has indicated it would veto such legislation. Stem-cell research centers on primitive cells derived from human embryos and undifferentiated adult cells that have the potential to differentiate into a number of different cell types.
Bush, in a 2001 executive order, restricted research to embryonic stem-cell lines already in existence at that time.
Advocates of embryonic stem-cell research contend the administration's restrictions have slowed the development of treatments for a range of diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and diabetes.
Opponents contend the research destroys human life and shouldn't be funded by taxpayer dollars.
The Senate will also consider a bill that would ban "fetal farming," which refers to the use of fetal tissue obtained from a pregnancy initiated for research purposes. It will also consider legislation that would require the federal government to back research into methods for obtaining stem cells without harming embryos. Both measures are co-sponsored by Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., an anti-abortion advocate.
Frist's decision last year to back federal funding drew criticism from GOP conservatives. Anti-abortion groups condemned Frist, and warned that pushing the legislation would cost him their support if he follows through in seeking the Republican nomination for president in 2008.
The legislation has the backing of GOP moderates, however, and most Democrats. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., gave Frist qualified praise for agreeing to bring the legislation to the floor next week.
"I am extremely pleased Sen. Frist has agreed to Democrats' request to take up stem cell legislation next week ... Despite his frequent promises, Sen. Frist waited for over a year after the House of Representatives passed the bill before even agreeing to bring it to the Senate floor. There is not another moment left to spare," Reid said.
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William L. Watts is a reporter for MarketWatch. |
