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Senate Democrats Seek To Initiate Debate On Legislation That Would Expand Federal Funding For Embryonic Stem Cell Research Some Senate Democrats, including Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), on Thursday in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) attempted to initiate a "long-awaited" debate on legislation (HR 810), which would expand federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research, by asking him to add it to an upcoming week of debate that Republicans are calling "health week," Reuters reports (Reuters, 5/4). The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 -- which has been approved by the House but has stalled in the Senate -- would expand federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research. It also would allow funding for research using stem cells derived from embryos originally created for fertility treatments and willingly donated by patients. Frist in October 2005 agreed to make consideration of the bill a priority when Congress reconvened in January 2006, according to Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 5/3). President Bush on Aug. 9, 2001, announced a policy that allows federal funding for embryonic stem cell research only when it uses stem cell lines created on or before that date (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 4/4). Bush has threatened to veto the bill if it is passed by the Senate (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 5/3). Frist possibly next week wants the Senate to consider other health-related legislation, such as bills on medical malpractice and small business insurance. "Further delay will mean more lost opportunities for new cures and new treatments," the Democrats said in the letter. The letter to Frist had no Republican signers (Reuters, 5/4). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn