HHS secretary Thompson spoke at the NIH yesterday, but still no answer on
the stem cell research issue. The headline in the Washington Post sounds
hopeful, but is misleading -- read on.
" HHS Encourages Research Applications
By Laura Meckler
Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2001; 6:44 p.m. EST
WASHINGTON –– Scientists who hope to conduct
controversial but
promising research using embryonic stem cells should
continue to submit applications for federal funds, even as the Bush
administration considers whether to kill the program, Health and Human
Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said Wednesday.
Applications are due next month, and it will take
several months for the
National Institutes of Health to evaluate them. In the
meantime, Thompson said he would consider whether HHS can legally pay
for this research.
It is one of many issues Thompson has confronted in a
whirlwind first
month, including decisions about the department's
budget, which was
released Wednesday.
... As with other issues, Thompson said the final
decision on stem cell
research will come from the White House. In the
meantime, he said, the
application process should proceed.
"During this period of time I'm going to have some
people review it, come back with recommendations to me and I'm going to
sit down with the president of the United States and talk to him about
it," he said.
Thompson said the decision will be based on
interpretation of federal law. Congress has said no federal money may
be used to extract the cells, but the Clinton administration concluded
that it was OK to fund research using privately extracted cells.
"It's a little murky," Thompson said. "Congress has
passed a law that says we can't do this."
Later, he explained the challenge of balancing
competing issues.
"I'm very strongly involved with research and research
is important, but
there also are legal and ethical questions that have
got to be resolved,"
Thompson said. "
See full story at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20010228/aponline184450_000
.htm
AND:
***You can still sign the online petition supporting stem cell research.
As of 5 AM this morning ithere were 6523 signatures. SEE:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?stmcll&1
Linda
