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Last week I emailed you about writing to six senators to support S5. There are seven - Johnny Isakson is the one I left out. I have written to and called all of them, but I live in Arizona and a letter from those of you in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Minnesota, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire, would carry a lot more weight than mine. Won't you please join our effort to get a veto-proof Congress? I will be happy to help anyone who thinks they need it, although a simple "support S5" would be sufficient. Remember, as Don C. Reed has said, "the only letter we can be sure has no influence is the one that isn't written." Amy Daly of Americans for Stem Cell Therapies & Cures sent me the information below and has attached more info and talking points. If you want to see them let me know. Ray "Right now our focus is on educating seven Senators who may be open to switching to a Yes vote on S5. I know you live in Arizona, and so a letter from you is taken a bit less seriously than one from a constituent, but if you wanted to write letters to these senators and encourage them to vote Yes on S5, I don't think it could hurt. Please pass this on to your network of people who could do the same. I have listed all seven Senators at the end of this email in case you have contacts in those seven states who may want to help with this effort. As you may know, the success of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (S. 5) will depend on one Senator's vote. Our best count of the "Yes" votes in the Senate is currently 66, and we need 67 to over-ride President Bush's expected veto. One more yes vote in the Senate could pay huge dividends in the long haul as their veto-override majority has huge symbolic importance. A veto-proof majority in the Senate sends a strong message that this federal legislation is moving forward and will provide added pressure on the President and opposition in the House to not be the reason why this legislation goes through. Unfortunately, the Senators below have not yet agreed to support the promising research. One of their colleagues, Senator Coleman, has proposed a "substitute" bill, authorizing $5 billion dollars in various forms of alternative research. This well-meant but mistaken legislation is no substitute for Senate Bill 5 and we fear that these Senators may believe that it is. These Senators need to be aware that: To our knowledge, not one of the nation's preeminent scientists regard any form of "alternative" stem cell research as a substitute for embryonic. (See attached statements from authorities such as Drs. Kevin Eggan and Anthony Atala, leaders in the field of alternative stem cell research.) Medical decisions should be made by you, your family and your doctor. Political leaders should not be cutting families off from access to this lifesaving research, but instead leading the effort to fund this research. It is a family's right to decide and choose the best medical care for their loved ones. The American people overwhelmingly support embryonic stem cell research. Not only are they impressed by the science itself, but they resent the restrictions currently imposed; restrictions on federal funds to embryonic stem cell research denies every family the right to access the best medical treatment and cures for their loved ones. This support for embryonic stem cell research manifested itself in major victories by pro-stem cell research candidates in the 2006 midterm Election. Non-embryonic stem cell research is already heavily funded. White House documents reveal a preference of nearly 20-1 for funding alternative stem cell research over embryonic. Senator Coleman's bill cannot be accepted as a reason to deny the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. We urge you to contact these Senators, requesting their "Yes" votes for the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. Thank you very much in advance for any help you can give! Best regards, Amy Seven Senators who need education: Lindsey Graham: South Carolina. Phone: (202) 224-5972 FAX: (202) 224-3808 Address: 290 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510 http://lgraham.senate.gov/index.cfm?mode=contactform Johnny Isakson: Georgia. Phone: (202) 224-3643 FAX: (202) 228-0724 Address: 120 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510 http://isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm Bob Casey: Pennsylvania Phone: (202) 224-6324. FAX: (202) 228-0604 Address: B-40 Dirksen Senate Building, Washington, D.C. 20510 http://casey.senate.gov/contact.cfm Norm Coleman: Minnesota (202) 224-5641 FAX: (202) 224-1152 Address: 320 Senate Hart Office Building, Washington, D. C. 20510 http://coleman.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm John Sununu: New Hampshire Phone: (202) 224-2841 FAX: (202) 228-4131 Address: 111 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510 http://www.sununu.senate.gov/webform.html Bob Corker: Tennessee Phone: (202) 224-3344 FAX: (202) 228-1264 Address: B-40A Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510 http://www3.capwiz.com/mygov/mailapp/ Richard Shelby: Alabama. Phone: (202) 224-5744 FAX: (202) 224-3416 Address: 110 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510 [log in to unmask] Amy Daly, RN (650) 812-9303 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn