Senate Pushes Embryonic Stem Cell Debate to 2006

by Dan Anderson

On October 21, Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) announced the Senate would not consider his legislation (S471) to expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research until 2006. The news was a sharp blow to supporters of the bill who had hoped the Senate would approve it this fall, capitalizing on the positive momentum created by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist’s (R-TN) August announcement that he supported the legislation. The House passed an identical bill (HR810) in May.

It is estimated that more than 100 million Americans have a disease or injury that could be treated or cured with stem cell therapies.

Earlier this year, Specter, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on health issues, threatened to include the stem cell measure in a Fiscal Year 2006 spending bill if it did not get floor consideration. He abandoned that plan, indicating that it would delay progress on the spending bill at a time when the Senate has many significant issues to deal with, including Hurricane Katrina relief and a Supreme Court nomination. Specter said the majority leader has assured him the legislation will be a priority next year.

Researchers believe embryonic stem cells- “unspecialized” cells that have the potential to develop into many different cell types in the body-could be used to generate new cells and tissues for medical therapies, possibly reversing the symptoms of many diseases and perhaps leading to cures. It is estimated that more than 100 million Americans have a disease or injury that could be treated or cured with stem cell therapies.

In order for biomedical researchers to explore the enormous potential of stem cells, proponents believe the Administration’s policy must be expanded. Current federal policy, established by President Bush in 2001, allows federal funds only for research using stem cell lines in existence on August 9, 2001. In other words, no new embryonic stem cell lines can be produced or used with federal funds. Initially, researchers thought only about 60 usable stem cell lines existed at that time. Now evidence exists that all of the lines eligible for federal funding are contaminated which makes them risky for use in medical therapies. Essentially, the federal government will fund research using the existing contaminated lines, but will not fund research using new, healthy lines.

Specter’s bill would allow federal funding for research performed on stem cell lines derived from surplus embryos at in vitro fertilization clinics, and only if the donors give written consent and receive no money for the use of the embryos.

Despite the President’s threat to veto the legislation, Orrin Hatch (R-UT), an opponent of abortion, has joined Specter, Frist, and other Republicans supporting the bill, including 50 House members who voted for HR810 in May. More Republicans, however, will need to sign on to override a Presidential veto. With public support for stem cell research exceeding 60%, according to recent surveys, and with Senator Frist’s recent announcement, positive momentum seems to be growing.

The bottom line is that stem cell research is legal and is one of the most promising avenues of biomedical research. The federal government should be expanding funding for stem cell research, not restricting it.

Dan Anderson is assistant director of Public Policy.