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President
Obama Ends Bush Ban on Embryonic Stem Cell Research Funding  (Top Posts - Social/Legal - 031109)
- - - March 9, 2009 Obama overturns Bush policy on stem cells http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/09/obama.stem.cells/index.html - - - Excerpts: President Obama signed an executive order Monday repealing a Bush-era policy that limited federal tax dollars for embryonic stem cell research. Obama's move overturns an order signed by President Bush in 2001 that barred the National Institutes of Health from funding research on embryonic stem cells beyond using 60 cell lines that existed at that time. Obama also signed a presidential memorandum establishing greater independence for federal science policies and programs. "In recent years, when it comes to stem cell research, rather than furthering discovery, our government has forced what I believe is a false choice between sound science and moral values," Obama said at the White House. "In this case, I believe the two are not inconsist- ent. As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering. I believe we have been given the capa- city and will to pursue this research -- and the humanity and conscience to do so responsibly." ... - - - See a map of nations that have taken the lead in using human embryos in stem cell research http://tinyurl.com/nations-embryostemcellres - - - Researchers highly value embryonic stem cells because of their potential to turn into any organ or tissue cell in the body. ... In February, a group of six moderate GOP con- gressmen sent a letter to Obama urging him to lift the funding ban. Former first lady Nancy Reagan also issued a statement Monday thanking Obama for lifting the ban. "These new rules will now make it possible for scientists to move forward," Reagan said. "Count- less people, suffering from many different diseases, stand to benefit from the answers stem cell research can provide. We owe it to ourselves and to our children to do everything in our power to find cures for these diseases." President Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease after leaving office -- an affliction that many scientists say eventually may be cured with the help of embryonic stem cell research. ... - - - end excerpts - - - |
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