Castle Makes Final Push to Urge President Bush to Sign His Stem Cell
Research Bill as Senate Prepares to Debate Bill Next Week
Washington, D.C. -- Delaware Congressman Mike Castle , author of H.R. 810,
The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, one of the bills to be debated on
the Senate floor next week, sent a letter to President Bush today by hand,
strongly urging him to reconsider his veto threat. Representative Castle,
who was turned down for a meeting with the President on this issue last
week, once again stressed the importance of the legislation for the millions
of American patients who stand to benefit from the research. Castle
attached to the letter a copy of his legislation with additional comments
and information sheets addressing the scientific and ethical concerns of the
President with H.R. 810.
The text of the letter is copied below, and a text of the fact
sheets is attached to this release.
July 13, 2006
The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, D.C.
Mr. President,
I am writing to express my great disappointment with regards to your
decision to veto H.R. 810, The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, and your
rejection of my request to meet with you concerning this matter. The day
after your lead strategist, Karl Rove, announced you would veto my
legislation, I received a letter from your office stating that a meeting on
this issue would not be possible. I hope that you will reconsider these
decisions.I believe it is critical to make a monumental decision like this
based on the facts and in this letter I'd like to outline these facts for
you.First, with regards to H.R. 810, The Stem Cell Research Enhancement
Act -- I wrote this legislation in consultation with our nation's leading
scientists, ethicists, physicians, patient groups and research universities
to mirror the policy you established in 2001. This legislation does NOT
allow funding for the creation or destruction of embryos. This is already
outlawed in the annual Dickey-Wicker Amendment that is attached as a rider
to the Labor HHS Education Appropriations Bill. Rather it allows federally
funded research on stem cell lines derived ethically according to the
following principles:
The stem cells were derived from human embryos that have been donated from
in vitro fertilization clinics, were created for the purposes of fertility
treatment, and were in excess of the clinical need of the individuals
seeking such treatment. Prior to the consideration of embryo donation and
through consultation with the individuals seeking fertility treatment, it
was determined that the embryos would never be implanted in a woman and
would otherwise be discarded.
The individuals seeking fertility treatment donated the embryos with written
informed consent and without receiving any financial or other inducements to
make the donation.
As you can see this legislation for the first time aims to end the "Wild
West" of stem cell research by establishing an ethical construct. It also
does not expand funding for embryonic stem cell research. I think the most
critical aspect of this policy is that the embryos we are discussing are
blastocysts, created for the purposes of in vitro fertilization, developed
into a few hundred cells, no bigger than the tip of a pencil, and which are
spare or in excess of clinical need and in every single case are slated for
medical waste. In keeping with your principles, the "life and death"
decision has been made - the donors have decided to discard these embryos
and they will be discarded. Why not use the stem cells we can derive from
these embryos, which will never become life, to help the millions of people
suffering across the United States?
Many myths surround the science of embryonic stem cells and that is why I
believe it is so critical to present the facts accurately. It is one reason
I am so very careful never ever to promise that embryonic stem cells will
absolutely lead to cures - I always say that leading scientists believe
these stem cells are our best hope for cures and treatments. But I also
believe those who oppose embryonic stem cell research must also abide by the
facts and not make blatantly scientifically false statements such as adult
stem cells can do everything embryonic stem cells can do. That is just
plain wrong. Adult stem cells are not better, they do not have the same
ability to turn into pluripotent stem cells and they are extremely limited
in what they can do. It concerns me greatly when I hear members of the
White House staff or other representatives make those claims.
Finally, it is important to point out that S. 2754, "The Alternative
Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Act," that you plan to sign into law, while
you veto the only piece of legislation that expands the most effective
method available, is wrought with difficulties. From concerns by your own
Bioethics Council over the ethics of some of these proposals, such as single
cell bioposy or altered nuclear transfer, to the very real fact that these
alternative sources are highly speculative and not being conducted in human
models, it is clear that this bill is nothing more than political cover for
those who do not stand with the majority of the American people in backing
true stem cell research.I have attached the following documents, which I
hope you will review, as you reconsider your veto threat on H.R. 810, the
Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act:
Copy of H.R. 810, The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act Scientific Analysis
of the Limitations of Adult Stem Cell Research "Facts on Stem Cells" written
by Dr. John Gearhart of Johns Hopkins University "In the Name of Politics"
written by former U.S. Senator John Danforth "Harnessing Stem Cells" written
by Dr. George Daley of Children's Hospital in Boston
Chapter 11 from Senator Orrin Hatch's book "Square Peg"
I welcome a discussion of this issue at your earliest possible convenience.
Sincerely,
Michael N. Castle
Member of Congress
Wilmington OfficeDover OfficeWashington OfficeGeorgetown
201 N. Walnut Street
Suite 107
Wilmington, DE 19801-3970
(302) 428-1902 300 South New Street
Dover, Delaware 19904
(302) 736-1666 1233 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-4165
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