 |
 |
DeGette Touts Research - Coloradan Skewers Bush Over Limits On Stem Cell Work By M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News July 28, 2004 BOSTON - U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette of Denver took center stage Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention, accusing President Bush of "putting politics before sound science" by limiting federal funds for stem cell research. Colorado's convention delegation roared with approval as DeGette's emotional speech set the stage for one of the night's featured speakers, Ron Reagan, who has called on the White House to expand stem cell research in honor of his father, President Reagan, who died after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. "Thanks to advances in biomedicine, especially embryonic stem cell research, we have the opportunity to save the lives of millions of Americans who suffer from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, nerve damage and other illnesses," DeGette said. But she accused Bush of holding back the research because, so far, he has not budged from his decision to restrict federally funded research to a limited number of existing stem cell lines that many scientists say have proven inadequate. Stem cells typically are taken from days-old human embryos and then grown in a laboratory into lines or colonies. Because the embryos are destroyed when the cells are extracted, the process is opposed by some conservatives who link it to abortion. Bush signed an executive order in August 2001 limiting federal funding for stem cell research to 78 embryonic stem cell lines then in existence, although only 15 to 20 have been usable, researchers say. "America is a world leader in patents, research and development and Nobel prizes, and the president's budget raises federal research and development funding to $132 billion for 2005, a 44 percent increase since taking office," said Danny Diaz, Bush-Cheney campaign spokesman. "Only John Kerry and his Doom and Gloom Squad could take issue with America's leadership role in the world in the science and technology field." The issue has always been shrouded in the abortion debate, but DeGette said holding back scientific progress is costing lives. "Stem cell research has been embraced by liberals and conservatives, those who are pro-choice and those who are pro-life," DeGette said. "Yet despite this support, hope has been denied to millions for the past three years. "Some would rather put politics before sound science, science that can and will better people's lives." DeGette, who helps lead separate congressional caucuses on pro-choice and diabetes research issues, has co-sponsored pending legislation that would open up more stem cell lines for federal funding while imposing ethical standards meant to bar creation of embryos for profit. There is little chance that the legislation can pass in the few weeks Congress has left to work this year, especially in the midst of the politically charged election season. But DeGette said after her speech that sponsors were looking for germane legislation where they could add it as an amendment. Meanwhile, members of Congress are continuing talks with the White House, and Ron Reagan is pushing hard for a breakthrough that leads to accelerated medical research. "Every year, every day, tragedy is visited upon families across the country, around the world," Ron Reagan told convention delegates, according to an advance text of his speech. "Now we may be able to put an end to this suffering. We only need to try." While Ron Reagan said his was not a "political" speech, DeGette used her time to tout John Kerry as someone who would "put the full weight of the government behind scientific discovery." She was the first Coloradan to address the crowd at Boston's FleetCenter this year, but she won't be the last. U.S. Rep. Mark Udall is scheduled to address the convention Thursday evening, and he plans to invoke the memory of his late father, longtime congressman Morris "Mo" Udall, to help personalize the stem cell research issue. Morris Udall left Congress in 1991 and then fought a long battle with Parkinson's disease before his death in 1998. News staff writer Lynn Bartels contributed to this report SOURCE: Rocky Mountain News, CO http://tinyurl.com/55xmg * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn