ALSO FROM THOMAS: S 2015 IS 106th CONGRESS 2nd Session S. 2015 Introduced by Senators Specter and Harkin: To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for research with respect to human embryonic stem cells. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 31, 2000 Mr. SPECTER (for himself and Mr. HARKIN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for research with respect to human embryonic stem cells. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the `Stem Cell Research Act of 2000'. SEC. 2. RESEARCH ON HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS. Part G of the Title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 288 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 498B the following: `SEC. 498C. RESEARCH ON HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS. `(a) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may only conduct, support, or fund research on, or utilizing, human embryos for the purpose of generating embryonic stem cells in accordance with this section. `(b) SOURCES OF EMBRYONIC CELLS- For purposes of carrying out research under paragraph (1), the human embryonic stem cells involved shall be derived only from embryos that otherwise would be discarded that have been donated from in-vitro fertilization clinics with the written informed consent of the progenitors. `(c) RESTRICTIONS- `(1) IN GENERAL- The following restriction shall apply with respect to human embryonic stem cell research conducted or supported under subsection (a): `(A) The research involved shall not result in the creation of human embryos. `(B) The research involved shall not result in the reproductive cloning of a human being. `(2) PROHIBITION- `(A) IN GENERAL- It shall be unlawful for any person receiving Federal funds to knowingly acquire, receive, or otherwise transfer any human gametes or human embryos for valuable consideration if the acquisition, receipt, or transfer affects interstate commerce. `(B) DEFINITION- In subparagraph (A), the term `valuable consideration' does not include reasonable payments associated with transportation, transplantation, processing, preservation, quality control, or storage. `(d) GUIDELINES- `(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary, in conjunction with the Director of the National Institutes of Health, shall issue guidelines governing human embryonic stem cell research under this section, including the definitions and terms used for purposes of such research. `(2) REQUIREMENTS- The guidelines issued under paragraph (1) shall ensure that-- `(A) all Federal research protocols and consent forms involving human embryonic stem cell research must be reviewed and approved by an institutional review board; and `(B) the institutional review board is empowered to make a determination as to whether or not the proposed research is in accordance with National Institutes of Health Guidelines for Research Involving Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. `(e) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.- Not later than January 1, 2001, and each January 1 thereafter, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing the activities carried out under this section during the preceding fiscal year, and including a description of whether and to what extent research under subsection (a) has been conducted in accordance with this section.'. END The following are some of Sen. Specter's remarks on the introduction of the bill - from the Congressional Record (also thru THOMAS) S 2015 STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS (Senate - January 31, 2000) Senator Specter: "Over the past 14 months, the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Subcommittee which I chair, held four hearings, the latest on November 4, 1999, to discuss the advances in stem cell research made by two research teams. One team, led by Dr. James Thompson at the University of Wisconsin, and the other headed by Dr. John Gearhart at Johns Hopkins University. Stem cell research is one area that holds particular promise for the development of future medical treatment and cures. . . At a Senate hearing convened by my subcommittee on December 2, 1998, Dr. Gearhart testified that he has been able to induce some stem cells to grow into nerve cells. Other scientists also stated that cures for Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, heart disease, diabetes, and other diseases and illnesses that plague mankind could be greatly accelerated by stem cell research. Some scientists, for example, believe that stem cell research could lead to tangible benefits to Parkinson's Disease patients in as soon as 7 to 10 years. What has been delaying the advancement of this new line of research is a provision in the Labor-HHS appropriations bill that prohibits research on human embryos. On January 15, 1999, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a legal opinion finding that the statutory prohibition of the use of funds appropriated to HHS for human embryo research would not apply to research utilizing human pluripotent stem cells because such cells do not constitute a human embryo. But even this limited use of stem cells may be blocked by those who misunderstand its purpose. According to Dr. Harold Varmus, the former head of the National Institutes of Health, research on stem cells is not the same as research on human embryos. Stem cells do not have the capacity to develop into a human being. While I applaud the HHS ruling, I do not believe that it goes far enough. To achieve the greatest and swiftest benefits, Federal researchers need their own supply of stem cells. Therefore, I am proposing this legislation to enable Federally-funded researchers to derive their own stem cells from spare embryos obtained from in vitro fertilization clinics. Allowing scientists to conduct human stem cell research would greatly accelerate advances in many avenues of study and, in collaboration with private industry, expedite the production and availability of new drugs and treatments. Enacting such legislation would clarify the boundaries governing Federally-funded researchers and make clear the commitment of this Congress to biomedical research." "Let me review the key provisions of this bill: It would amend the Public Health Service Act and give permanent authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct, support, or fund research on human embryos only for the purpose of generating stem cells. Human embryonic stem cells may be derived and used in research only from embryos that would otherwise be discarded and donated by in vitro fertilization clinics and only with the written informed consent of the donors."