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RE: impact of Senator Jeffords switch from Republican to independent?: Two important changes in the Senate: -- Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota,now becomes the Senate majority leader- he and the Democratic party will now set the Senate floor debate and voting schedule, and Democratic committee chairmen will decide which issues will be publicized through hearings and which legislation will be sent to the floor. -- Senator Ted Kennedy becomes the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. This is the committee where the the Stem Cell Research Act (S.723) has been referred to. Kennedy has not yet co-sponsored this bill, but would presume he would support it. Anyone from Mass. have more information on Kennedy and the stem celll issues? Other committee members are: *= cosponsor of S.723 Democrats Dodd-cT, *Harkin-IA, Mikulski - MD, *Bingaman - NM, Wellstone-MN, *Murrary- WA, Reed -RI, Edwards- NC, *Clinton - NY. Republicans Jeffords- VT*, Gregg-NH, Frist- TN, Enzi- WY, Hutchinson- AR, Warner-VA, Bond- MO, Roberts- KS, Collins- ME, Sessions- AL. During the last session of Congress, a similar bill was also introduced by Senators Specter and Harkin, but never got out of committee and to the Senate floor for a vote, due to last minute budget appropriations dealing, and then - Majority Leader Trent Lott's opposition to the bill. While the shift in power in the Senate is good news, it doesn't mean our job is over. The door has been opened for us by a few inches. It is even more important now to contact your Senators and House reps. and ask them to support stem cell research funding AND increased NIH and Department of Defense funding for Parkinson's disease research. Lots of information, suggested web sites and examples of letters have been posted to the list. Check the last few days messages, or the archives, or ask any questions. Linda ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn