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The Salt Lake Tribune Hatch Backs Stem Cell Legislation Wednesday, July 18, 2001 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON -- Sen. Orrin Hatch said Tuesday that he would support legislation allowing federal funds to be used for embryonic stem cell research if President Bush decides to continue a ban on such government-backed research. At the same time, Hatch, R-Utah, said he hopes Bush will "do what is medically urgent, necessary and right," and allow federal funds to be used. Hatch's outspoken support of stem cell research has put him at odds with conservative groups that have traditionally supported the senator and view the use of cells taken from test-tube embryos as murder. Hatch disagrees. "I believe that human life begins in the womb, not in a petri dish or in a refrigerator," he said. Hatch said it has been hard to be criticized for his views. But he said it also has been difficult to watch his friend Muhammad Ali suffering from Parkinson's and former President Reagan with Alzheimer's deteriorating. Those two are representative of hundreds of millions like them who could benefit from stem cell research, he said. The senator's comments came before a House panel heard testimony on the ethics of stem cell research, which takes cells from embryos to be implanted in patients with various degenerative diseases, destroying the embryo in the process. Supporters of the research say the embryo cells have great potential for treating diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes, cancer and others. Opponents say the frozen embryos are human beings and destroying them for research is wrong. Within the next few weeks, Bush is expected to make a decision on whether to adopt National Institutes of Health recommendations that would allow federal funds to be used for embryonic stem cell research. A NIH report due out today outlines the promise of stem cell research. But to meet its full potential, the report said, scientists need to be free to study embryonic stem cells. The conclusions provided new ammunition to proponents of the research. Hatch said he studied the law, science and prayed about the issue before coming to his decision. Hatch is a Mormon. The church does not have an official position on stem cell research, but is firmly against abortion. Conservative leaders in Utah have condemned Hatch's stance. SOURCE: The Salt Lake Tribune http://www.sltrib.com/07182001/nation_w/114580.htm * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn