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Prior to the vote on HR 810, I contacted my Florida senators asking for their support on this important bill. Below is the response from Sen. Martinez, who, btw, voted against HR 810. Bev Bashe ----- Original Message ----- From: [log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 10:34 AM Subject: Response to your recent comments Below is a response to the recent comments I received from you: Dear Mrs. Bashe: Thank you for contacting me regarding stem cell research. I appreciate hearing from you and would like to respond to your concerns. Stem cells are an important and promising element of medical research because they provide the opportunity to study the growth and differentiation of individual cells into tissues. Understanding these processes could provide insights into some of the most troubling problems we face in healthcare including birth defects, genetic abnormalities, spinal cord injuries, and many diseases, such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. My position on this sensitive issue is shaped by deeply held beliefs. I firmly believe that the sanctity of life is a critical characteristic of a strong nation, and I am devoted to fostering and encouraging respect for life in America. I am also a strong supporter of medical research and believe we must continue to advance research that holds the promise of providing cures to debilitating diseases that affect millions of people all over the world. I support maintaining federal funding for stem cell research when it is done using adult or animal stem cells, as well as stem cells taken from an umbilical cord or placenta. While we must devote great energy and resources to conquering disease, it is equally important to pay attention to the moral concerns raised by this new frontier. On July 18, 2006 the Senate voted on three very important stem cell bills. I supported the Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act (S. 2754), which would support research on these flexible, embryonic-like stem cells without the creation, destruction, or harming of human embryos. S. 2754 passed without opposition by a vote of 100 to 0. I also supported the Fetus Farming Prohibition Act (S. 3504), prohibiting the gestation of a human embryo in a female or animal, solely for the purpose of research. This piece of legislation passed without opposition by a vote of 100 to 0. I opposed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (H.R. 810), because it would require the Federal government to support embryonic stem cell research that destroys human embryos. H.R. 810, which passed in the House of Representatives on May 24, 2005, by a vote of 238 to 194, was passed by the Senate with a vote of 63 to 37. This measure was sent to President Bush, and he vetoed it on July 19, 2005. To override this veto, a two-thirds majority vote will be required from both the House and Senate chambers. The complex issue of research involving stem cells derived by human embryos is one of the most profound of our time. I will continue to seek a balance between promoting medical research and protecting the sanctity of life. Again, thank you for sharing your views with me. If you have any additional questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me. In addition, for more information about issues and activities important to Florida, please sign up for my weekly newsletter at http://martinez.senate.gov. Sincerely, Mel Martinez United States Senator **Note: PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL. If you would like to reply to this message, please contact me through my website at http://martinez.senate.gov. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn