It’s a new and different Congress, but there will be a sense of dèjá vu today when the House takes up legislation that would expand the federal role in developing embryonic stem-cell research.
House Bill 3 would allow broader federal funding for this work, which holds promise for treatment of such intractable diseases as Parkinson’s, diabetes and Alzheimer’s.
The stem-cell bill was the rare bipartisan legislation to emerge from the 109th Congress, but it was vetoed by President Bush in a bow to anti-abortion activists who oppose stem-cell science. We hope the 110th will put the bill back on the president’s desk and that this time he’ll heed the bipartisan majority and sign it.
A new wrinkle in the stem cell field emerged this week as researchers at Wake Forest University reported that cells extracted from amniotic fluid could be used for some of the same research as embryonic stem cells. The finding was important because amniotic fluid can be extracted harmlessly from the womb and so their use would sidestep the issue that opponents have with the destruction of embryos in extracting stem cells from them. (In point of fact, researchers use embryos that are destined for the trash bin if they are not used otherwise.)
The amniotic advance is encouraging, but it’s not a substitute for the continuation of embryonic stem-cell research. Anthony Atala, author of the amniotic cell study, urged Congress to support HR3, finding it essential to “fully pursue embryonic stem-cell research as a complement to research into other forms of stem cells.”
Other scientists have said that it’s unclear if amniotic cells will have the same range and promise as embryonic cells, which have the remarkable ability to turn into any of the 220 cell types that make up the human body.
Rep. Diana DeGette of Denver is a principal author of the House bill, which includes strong ethics procedures and mirrors the 2006 version which won House approval 238-195 and passed the Senate 63-37.
DeGette and Republican co-author Mike Castle of Delaware have not ruled out compromise. “Certainly our minds and hearts are open to the White House if there’s something that they want,” said Castle.
We hope Congress will deliver the stem-cell bill to Bush with a greater margin than last year, and that the president will consider the benefits of this important medical research.
