lorrainne and list, I have similar questions about what we should be advocating for and hope someone with more knowlege can answer. There hasn't been much activity on the existing bills -- it seems Congress is also waiting for Bush's announcement before taking a stand. The current bills are: -- maloney's h con.res 17 only conveys the sense of Congress - it doesn't carry the force of law. But it just got 2 new cosponsors - Wu and Moran bringing the total to 61. Bill Summary & Status for the 107th Congress h.CON.RES.17 Sponsor: Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. (introduced 1/30/2001) Latest Major Action: 2/14/2001 Referred to House subcommittee Title: Expressing the sense of the Congress supporting Federal funding of pluripotent stem cell research. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Spector and Harkins bill is S.723 -- which would change the public health law to allow embroyonic stem cell research and generation, derived only from embryos that have been donated from in-vitro fertilization clinics in compliance with the stated guidelines -- see text below: It currently has 16 co-sponsors -- the last one signed on May 21. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Rep. McDermott introduced HR 2059 in ithe House on June 5th. It appears to be the same as S.723. It has 10 cosponsors See text below: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- Rep. Smith's bill H.R.2096 (introduced 6/7/2001) -- Title: To provide for a National Stem Cell Donor Bank regarding qualifying human stem cells, and for the conduct and support of research using such cells. It has 52 co-sponsors. The key term is "qualifying" which is defined as: " QUALIFYING HUMAN STEM CELLS- For purposes of this Act, the term `qualifying human stem cells' means human stem cells obtained from human placentas, umbilical cord blood, organs or tissues of a living or deceased human being who has been born, or organs or tissues of unborn human offspring who died of natural causes (such as spontaneous abortion)." --it isn't clear to me if this would just fund the limited research as stated above or if it would also ban funding of embryonic stem cell research. The texts of the 3 bills follows: Any other information or interpretations? Linda Herman ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- Stem Cell Research Act of 2001 (Introduced in the Senate) S 723 IS To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for human embryonic stem cell generation and research. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 5, 2001 referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the `Stem Cell Research Act of 2001'. SEC. 2. HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELL GENERATION AND RESEARCH. Part H of the Title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 289 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 498B the following: `SEC. 498C. HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELL GENERATION AND RESEARCH. `(a) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may only conduct, support, or fund research on human embryos for the purpose of generating embryonic stem cells and utilizing stem cells that have been derived from embryos in accordance with this section. `(b) SOURCES OF EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS- For purposes of carrying out research under subsection (a), the human embryonic stem cells involved shall be derived only from embryos that have been donated from in-vitro fertilization clinics after compliance with the following: `(1) Prior to the consideration of embryo donation and through consultation with the progenitors, it is determined that the embryos will never be implanted in a woman and would otherwise be discarded. `(2) The embryos are donated 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 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- The Secretary, in conjunction with the Director of the National Institutes of Health, shall issue guidelines that expand on the rules governing human embryonic stem cell research (as in effect on the date of enactment of this section) to include rules that govern the derivation of stem cells from donated embryos under this section. `(e) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.- The Secretary shall annually 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.'. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Stem Cell Research Act of 2001 (Introduced in the House) HR 2059 IH To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for human embryonic stem cell generation and research. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 5, 2001 Mr. MCDERMOTT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for human embryonic stem cell generation and research. 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 2001'. SEC. 2. HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELL GENERATION AND RESEARCH. Part H of the Title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 289 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 498B the following: `SEC. 498C. HUMAN EMBRYONIC STEM CELL GENERATION AND RESEARCH. `(a) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may only conduct, support, or fund research on human embryos for the purpose of generating embryonic stem cells and utilizing stem cells that have been derived from embryos in accordance with this section. `(b) SOURCES OF EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS- For purposes of carrying out research under subsection (a), the human embryonic stem cells involved shall be derived only from embryos that have been donated from in-vitro fertilization clinics after compliance with the following: `(1) Prior to the consideration of embryo donation and through consultation with the progenitors, it is determined that the embryos will never be implanted in a woman and would otherwise be discarded. `(2) The embryos are donated 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 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- The Secretary, in conjunction with the Director of the National Institutes of Health, shall issue guidelines that expand on the rules governing human embryonic stem cell research (as in effect on the date of enactment of this section) to include rules that govern the derivation of stem cells from donated embryos under this section. `(e) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS- The Secretary shall annually 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.'. H.R.2059 Sponsor: Rep McDermott, Jim (introduced 6/5/2001) Latest Major Action: 6/5/2001 Referred to House committee COSPONSORS(10), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date) Rep DeFazio, Peter A. - 6/12/2001 Rep Evans, Lane - 6/12/2001 Rep Filner, Bob - 6/12/2001 Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. - 6/12/2001 Rep Honda, Michael M. - 6/12/2001 Rep Miller, George - 6/12/2001 Rep Napolitano, Grace F. - 6/12/2001 Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. - 6/12/2001 Rep Thurman, Karen L. - 6/12/2001 Rep Tierney, John F. - 6/12/2001 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------ H.R.2096 Sponsor: Rep Smith, Christopher H. (introduced 6/7/2001) Latest Major Action: 6/7/2001 Referred to House committee Title: To provide for a National Stem Cell Donor Bank regarding qualifying human stem cells, and for the conduct and support of research using such cells. Responsible Stem Cell Research Act of 2001 (Introduced in the House) referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To provide for a National Stem Cell Donor Bank regarding qualifying human stem cells, and for the conduct and support of research using such 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 `Responsible Stem Cell Research Act of 2001'. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds as follows: (1) Past investments in biomedical research have resulted in better health, an improved quality of life for all Americans, and a reduction in national health care expenditures. (2) The Nation's commitment to biomedical research has expanded the base of scientific knowledge about health and disease and revolutionized the practice of medicine. (3) Research sponsored by the National Institutes of Health is responsible for the identification of genetic mutations relating to nearly 100 diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, cystic fibrosis, Huntington's disease, osteoporosis, many forms of cancer, and immune deficiency disorders. (4) Many Americans still face serious and life-threatening health problems, both acute and chronic. (5) Neurodegenerative diseases of the elderly, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, threaten to destroy the lives of millions of Americans. (6) Cancer remains a comprehensive threat to any tissue or organ of the body at any age, and remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. (7) The extent of psychiatric and neurological diseases poses considerable challenges in understanding the workings of the brain and nervous system. (8) Diabetes, both insulin and noninsulin forms, afflicts 16 million Americans and places them at risk for acute and chronic complications, including blindness, kidney failure, atherosclerosis, and nerve degeneration. (9) Recent scientific developments show that human stem cell research based on ethically responsible stem cell sources may lead to exponential improvements in the treatment of many terminal and debilitating conditions, from cancer to Parkinson's to Alzheimer's to diabetes to heart disease. (10) To take full advantage of the tremendous potential for finding a cure or effective treatment for many debilitating diseases, the Federal investment in ethical stem cell research must be expanded. SEC. 3. NATIONAL STEM CELL DONOR BANK. (a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall by contract establish and maintain a National Stem Cell Donor Bank (in this section referred to as the `Donor Bank'). The purpose of the Donor Bank shall be to seek and preserve donations of qualifying human stem cells and to make such donated cells available for biomedical research and for therapeutic purposes. (b) QUALIFYING HUMAN STEM CELLS- For purposes of this Act, the term `qualifying human stem cells' means human stem cells obtained from human placentas, umbilical cord blood, organs or tissues of a living or deceased human being who has been born, or organs or tissues of unborn human offspring who died of natural causes (such as spontaneous abortion). (c) ADMINISTRATION OF DONOR BANK- The Donor Bank shall be under the general supervision of the Secretary, and under the direction of a board of directors meeting such criteria as the Secretary may establish. (d) PATIENT REGISTRY- The Donor Bank shall with respect to qualifying human stem cells-- (1) operate a registry of patients who are transplant candidates; (2) establish a system for finding donors who are unrelated to the candidate patients and are suitably matched to the patients; and (3) carry out informational and educational activities. (e) CRITERIA- The Secretary shall establish criteria for the Donor Bank and other entities that participate in the program under this section, including-- (1) quality standards and standards for tissue typing and obtaining the informed consent of donors, or the parents or legal representatives of donors as appropriate; (2) donor selection criteria, based on established medical criteria, to protect both donors and transplant recipients and to prevent the transmission of potentially harmful infectious diseases; (3) procedures to ensure the proper collection and transportation of qualifying human stem cells; and (4) standards that-- (A) require the establishment of a system of strict confidentiality of records relating to the identity and address of and medical information on patients and donors; and (B) prescribe the purposes for which the records described in subparagraph (A) may be disclosed, and the circumstances and extent of the disclosure. (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2002 through 2006. SEC. 4. USE OF QUALIFYING HUMAN STEM CELLS IN RESEARCH CONDUCTED OR SUPPORTED BY NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH. (a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health, may conduct and support research that uses qualifying human stem cells. (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- For the purpose of carrying out subsection (a), there are authorized to be appropriated $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2006. SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Act: (1) The term `qualifying human stem cells' has the meaning given such term in section 3. (2) The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of Health and Human Services. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn