Statement of U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette On Senator Frist's Agreement to Allow a Senate Vote on Stem Cells

Statement of U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette On Senator Frist's Agreement to Allow a Senate Vote on Stem Cells


WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO) released the following statement after Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) announced a Senate vote on stem cell research.

"I would like to thank Senator Frist for brokering this very difficult agreement," said DeGette. "This is what we have all been waiting on for the past year. There is overwhelming bipartisan support for expanding stem cell research which will help extend or save the lives of millions of Americans. Support for stem cell research transcends political party and ideology and I welcome the upcoming vote."

"After the Senate vote, all eyes will turn to President Bush. I can only hope that he does not use the first veto of his presidency on a bill that will help 110 million Americans," said DeGette.

H.R. 810, the "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act," passed the House of Representatives on May 24, 2005. The legislation would expand the current federal embryonic stem cell research policy by allowing federally funded research to move forward on stem cell lines created ethically from excess IVF embryos that would otherwise be discarded as medical waste.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/co01_degette/senatestemcells.html