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Republican Main Street Partnership Urges GOP Platform Committee to Include Language Regarding Embryonic Stem Cell Research Date: Aug 20, 2004 - 09:08 AM WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 /U.S. Newswire/ -- As President of the Republican Main Street Partnership (RMSP) and the House leader on embryonic stem cell research, Delaware Congressman Mike Castle today released a letter he wrote to the GOP Platform Committee Leadership urging them to include language supporting an expansion of the current federal embryonic stem cell research policy in the GOP Platform. "It is important to show the embryonic stem cell research is not a so-called wedge issue and that it does have bipartisan support," Castle said. Specifically Castle and RMSP recommended the following language: "The Republican Party recognizes the enormous potential of adult and embryonic stem cell research. The Party supports efforts to fulfill President Bush's August 9, 2001 human embryonic stem cell policy by expanding the number of stem cell lines available to researchers based on the ethical guidelines established by the President and the National Institutes of Health." In his letter (see below) to Majority Leader Bill Frist, Governor Bill Owens and Representative Melissa Hart, the Platform Leadership Committee, Castle wrote: "An expansion of the current policy is consistent with the Republican Party philosophy of compassion, ingenuity, economic development and science. "This is an issue that holds so much promise for diseases like juvenile diabetes, Parkinson's Disease, cancer, spinal cord injury and many more -- and I realize at this point it is just that -- promise and hope. But I think this promise and hope must be explored and we should not waste one more single day in doing so. By opening up the current federal embryonic stem cell policy to enable researchers to study lines that were developed with improved technology, are disease specific and have genetic diversity, the Republican Party may very well lead the way in saving lives." Castle and Representative Diana DeGette are the authors of H.R. 4682, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, endorsed by numerous scientific and patient advocacy groups and the RMSP and architects of the bipartisan letter urging President Bush to expand the stem cell policy. SOURCE: U.S. Newswire / http://www.ncrumors.com/print.php?sid=762 Reference: 18/08/2004 - Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research http://www.camradvocacy.org/fastaction/takeaction.asp 6/23/2004 - RMSP Endorses Castle Stem Cell Legislation http://www.republicanmainstreet.org/news.asp?record_no=3236 4/29/2004 - The Washington Post - Looser Rules for Stem Cells Sought House Members Petition President http://tinyurl.com/2rscz 4/28/2004 - RMSP Urges Bush to Revise Stem Cell Policy http://www.republicanmainstreet.org/news.asp?record_no=3115 4/20/2004 - The Scientist - US Stem Cell Rules Loosening? Advocates read good, bad news between the lines of Zerhouni statement http://www.biomedcentral.com/news/20040520/04 * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn