Surprise Speech Throws Momentum Behind Stem Cell Research Bill

Shockwaves reverberated down the hallways of Congress today as Senate Majority Bill Frist (R-TN) broke from the White House and ultra-conservative Christian lobbyists and voiced surprise support for HR 810, the Senate bill to provide funding for embryonic stem cell research.

The bill recently passed in the House of Representatives, garnering a coalition of 200 bipartisan House co-sponsors. The Senate bill, though has been mired in politics and Republican stalling tactics, mainly in response to White House pressure to kill the bill.

In May 2001, President Bush banned the use of federal funds for stem cell research, although he notably didn't ban such research by corporations. Until this morning, Senator Frist had been the Senate advocate for all White House positions, and was widely regarded as heavily influenced by extreme rightwing lobbyist Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family.

Senator Frist, who is also a heart-lung transplant surgeon, announced on the Senate floor this morning, "...the limitations put in place in 2001 will, over time, slow our ability to bring potential new treatments for certain diseases. Therefore, I think the president's policy should be modified. "

Embryonic stem cells show great promise...far more than shown by adult stem cells or umbilical cord stem cells... for developing treatments and even cures for 71 diseases and disabilities, including spinal cord injuries, cancers, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, Parkinson's disease and genetic disorders.

The Senate bill, led by Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), who is quite ill with cancer, is co-sponsored by 40 of the 100 US Senators, including, Democratic Senators Evan Bayh, Hillary Clinton, Russ Feingold and John Kerry, all considered possible 2008 presidential candidates.

Other Democratic senators co-sponsoring the stem cell research funding bill are Senators Barack Obama, Maria Cantwell, Debbie Stabenow, Dianne Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, Joe Lieberman and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid.

The Senate will likely not vote on this bill until September, after its August break. If passed by the Senate, the bill will be sent on to the White House for the President's signature. The President has threatened to veto such congressional legislation. However, all public opinion polls show that the American public overwhelmingly supports federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.

One group celebrating this victory is StemPac, a bipartisan group launched earlier this month to unite and mobilize pro-stem cell research activists and millions of Americans clamoring for the US to take a leadership role n this burgeoning medical research field. StemPac writes on its website this morning, "Senator Frist today announced his support for HR 810. This is a huge step, it took a lot of courage, and he deserves credit. "

With Dr. Frist's Senate-floor surprise speech this morning, the credibility of the extremist ultra-conservative Christian lobby was badly wounded...perhaps mortally wounded. The White House has not yet publicly responded to the Senate Majority Leader's new support of federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
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Related article - Pros & Cons of Embryonic Stem Cell Research