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New Jersey Governor to Sign Bill Legalizing Stem Cell Research in State. Dec 31, 2003 (The Record - Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News via COMTEX) -- Actor Christopher Reeve will be on hand Sunday as Governor McGreevey signs a bill legalizing stem cell research in New Jersey, a governor's spokeswoman said Tuesday. The "Superman" star, who suffered a spinal cord injury in a horse riding accident in 1995, has become one of the most vocal supporters of stem cell research. He testified in Trenton last year on behalf of the bill. "The stem cell research bill offers real hope in our continuing efforts to cure disease," McGreevey said after the bill passed its final legislative hurdle in the Assembly this month. The signing is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange, a nationally recognized brain and spinal cord research center where Reeve underwent treatment after his accident. The new law will allow scientists in New Jersey to harvest stem cells from human embyros to use in researching cures for diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and Parkinson's, as well as brain and spinal cord injuries. The research is strongly opposed by the Catholic Church and abortion opponents, who are against the destruction of human embryos, and by social conservatives, who say the research will lead to human cloning. New Jersey will become the second state, after California, to legalize stem cell research. The legislation does not provide any state funding. In 2001, President Bush enacted a policy banning federal funding for creating new stem cell lines for research. The federal policy did not affect existing lines, and did not apply to state or private funds. By Michelle Han To see more of The Record, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.NorthJersey.com SOURCE: The Record, Hackensack, N.J. / MacroWorld Investor http://www.mworld.com/m/m.w?lp=GetStory&id=82196641 * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn