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the Stem Cell Page time and ignorance are the enemies |
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Why does the minority rule? |
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January 10, 2007
Yesterday, there was a press conference regarding the reintroduction of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. In the newly opened 110th Congress the bill is known as HR3 in the House and S5 in the Senate. The lineup facing the press included Representatives Diana DeGette and Mike Castle, and Senators Tom Harkin, Dianne Feinstein, Orrin Hatch and Arlen Specter. If you have Real Player, you can watch the press conference online (click here).
DeGette opened with the announcement that HR3 begins its renewed journey with 210 original co-sponsors in the House. That’s a phenomenal foundation to any legislation, nearly enough co-sponsors to pass it by themselves in the House.
DeGette reported how President Bush has refused to meet with sponsors to discuss or negotiate the bill despite many requests to set a meeting. For a President who, immediately after the election, spoke of “getting the message” after taking “a thumping” and was looking forward to working with the new Congress in a bipartisan manner, this is a disappointment. As this bill, in both its previous and current forms, has strong bipartisan support, the President’s refusal to discuss it belies his own words – not that anyone is too surprised by that any longer. Representative DeGette, however, made it clear that this legislation will not go away.
She also made an announcement regarding the story released only the day prior about a new study that demonstrated stem cells found in amniotic fluid were of greater potency than typical adult stem cells. Dr. Anthony Atala, who headed the research project at Wake Forest, sent her a letter in which he stated that his research does not substitute for, and in fact complements, embryonic stem cell research. He wrote: “It is essential that the National Institutes of Health funded researchers are able to fully pursue embryonic stem cell research.”
Next, Mike Castle took the podium and explained the group’s willingness to discuss items they thought might appease the President, including establishment of an oversight committee, revising the requirements of informed consent, additional funding toward embryo adoption and alternative forms of derivation. Of course, a President who refuses to meet is unlikely to alter the course or contents of the bill.
Castle also warned against those promoting inaccurate statements. “I do not particularly want to hear from scientists the pro-life movement has hired to spread mistruths,” he said, “particularly the one about 65 cures with adult stem cells - or anything else. That ‘65 cures’ is just false. It’s a much lower number than that. I’m all for adult stem cell research, but they’re not anywhere near 65 cures, probably closer to 9.” We in the Pro-Cures movement can thank Shane Smith, Bill Neaves and Steven Teitelbaum for debunking David Prentice’s infamous “List of 65” last year. And we should thank Mike Castle for his strong admonition in this regard.
Senator Tom Harkin then explained that this bill would provide ethical guidelines that are stricter than what’s in place right now. He also warned the press not to hype the promise of individual scientific studies. For example, the study of amniotic fluid for stem cells is nothing new. Harkin explained the he and Senator Specter included report language encouraging the NIH to include amniotic research in their appropriations bill two years ago. “The new study is noteworthy,” Harkin explained, “but it does not represent a breakthrough.”
Senator Harkin also noted that 519 different scientific and medical groups have already sent in letters supporting the measure.
Orrin Hatch then opined, “For the life of me I can’t understand how we can actually cast aside and destroy 7,000 to 20,000 fertilized eggs from in vitro fertilization clinics every year - as hospital waste - and say that is pro-life when those eggs could be utilized for the benefit of kids with diabetes and all these other maladies as well.”
He mentioned the American scientists lost to foreign countries, citing how they can’t perform research here as well when compared to many other nations, which do not have such restrictions in place.
Senator Feinstein asked, “Does anyone believe that one day this bill will not be law?” She continued by explaining that the ideology of a minority delays progress while the numbers of afflicted Americans grows by millions each year.
Making her position clear, she said, “I am strongly of the view we should pass this bill again and again and again and again - until we get a President who will sign it.” She described the arguments the President has made as “bogus and specious.”
Though he was not the last to speak, I have saved Arlen Specter for last.
Specter commented, “It’s scandalous that eight years have passed since we have known about SCR and the potential to conquer all those maladies and federal funds have not been available for the research.” Specter noted that discussions on the topic have permeated Congress for years. In fact, within ten days of the November, 1998 announcement of the isolation of human embryonic stem cells, the Senate commenced the first of its 19 hearings on the matter.
Specter rebuked the administration for allocating about $29 billion annually to the NIH, while limiting human embryonic stem cell research to less than one-tenth of one percent of that total - effectively nothing. He noted that 300 other human embryonic stem cell lines are available worldwide and these lines meet the standard expressed by Bush – that “the life and death decision has already been made” – while U.S. researchers are prohibited from obtaining federal funds for their study. And all this as life-altering and life-threatening illnesses continue to strike millions of Americans – including, he said, Arlen Specter.
Specter stated that it is a question of when, not if, the bill will pass over a veto and expressed his confidence that the Senate is already there. “The House,” he says, “is within shouting distance.”
But the reason I saved Senator Specter’s comments for last is because he also expressed his frustration with the Pro-Cures community. He noted that advocates always ask him, ‘What can we do?’ And his advice is simple: “You can identify members of House and Senate who voted against the legislation last year.”
He even got a bit testy when he said, “If the 100,000,000 people who are victimized today by these maladies would stand up and fight, we’d get the job done this year!”
And he’s so right. That’s what the minority, those who oppose this research, do so well. And we in the Pro-Cures movement need to do better.
Have you joined the Stem Cell Action Network? When you join SCAN you’re helping to swell the ranks of the Pro-Cures grassroots movement. Do it now. Click here.
Have you contacted your representatives? SCAN makes it easy to write your representatives – even if you don’t know who they are. Just fill out the online form and SCAN’s automated system will direct your note to your congresspersons and senators. Do it now. Click here.
If you don’t, then you’re the reason the minority rules.
- by Jeff Eisen
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