DENVER—Colorado Democratic congresswoman Diana DeGette plans to meet with party leaders in the House to discuss her bill that would put into law a new executive order allowing federal funding for stem cell research.
DeGette looked on as President Barack Obama signed an executive order Monday reversing his predecessor’s ban on such funding.
DeGette says it’s important to have a law permitting the funding so it can’t be undone by a later administration.
President George W. Bush imposed the ban in 2001. He also vetoed bills sponsored by DeGette to allow federal funding of research on embryos derived from fertility treatments that otherwise would be discarded.
Embryonic stem cells can change into any type of cell. Scientists hope they can be used treat such diseases as diabetes and Alzheimer’s.
