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Monsters in Disguise: Hidden Stem Cell Funding Prohibition by diverdonreed Fri Apr 20, 2007 at 05:35:48 AM PDT Like monsters in a pleasant guise, the so-called "Hope Acts" appear reasonable, but are deadly dangerous, containing permanent prohibitions against funding for embryonic stem cell research. The Bush White House helped to write the "Hope Act", which fooled many Senators, who thought they were signing a harmless law... THE CRYSTAL HORDE, AND THE BUSH-APPROVED "HOPE" ACTS I remember being terrified once by a book called "The Crystal Horde" by John Taine. The title entity was visually beautiful: what is more lovely than crystal? Shimmering, exquisite, capturing and refracting light, bright as diamonds... But it was a monster. Those crystal spikes and slivers were piercing swords of living glass, advancing, growing, enhancing-and killing, feeding off humans, destroying everyone in its path. It grew in the dark, until it was so huge and powerful it no longer needed to hide. Its true threat was revealed. Similarly, the misleadingly-titled "Hope Acts" seem at first very moderate and reasonable, but are in fact designed to block embryonic stem cell research funding. There are two so far: the "Hope Offered through Principled and Ethical Stem Cell Research Act" (S 30/Coleman, Isakson) and its clone, the "Florida Hope Offered through Principled and Ethical Stem Cell Research Act"-unless defeated, there will be more. Presented as a moderate alternative to the Stem Cell research Enhancement Act, the "Hope Act" is in fact a permanent restriction-supported by the Bush Administration, which helped write it. It fooled a lot of good people in the Senate, who did not have time to fully examine it, and believed it was a harmless bill. It must be defeated in the House, or the President will surely sign it into law. The Florida version was sold as a way to pay for adult stem cell research, $20 million a year (and restrictions, banning embryonic stem cell research funding from the state)-but then the money was taken away, so only the restrictions remain. Stealing the language of good research, and sold as a moderate compromise, these deceptive legislations are the enemy at its most deadly. The enemies of research know they are losing. America has made up her mind. We want the research to move forward. The opposition's only hope is win by deception, to advance their anti-research agenda in the guise of attractive words and seeming compromise, hiding the spikes and poison, to rush restrictions through before we understand, before we can rally, and defend. All that is required to defeat this real-life "Crystal Horde" is that we fully understand the bill, and make sure our leaders share that understanding. Contrary to its grossly misleading title, the "Hope Act" (S 30, Coleman, Isakson) would impose a devastating and permanent ban on federal funding of new embryonic stem cell research, including Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) therapies. The bill would codify permanent change in what stem cell research may be federally funded. Prior to this bill, similar language had to be approved every year- under the Dickey Amendment-now those provisions would be fixed in law. Take a look at it, up close. Here is a short version, combining the actual language, with some explanatory commentary. Below are relevant portions: commentary (embedded) in CAPITAL LETTERS. 110th CONGRESS, 1st Session, S. 30, In the House of Representatives, April 16, 2007...This Act may be cited as the `Hope Offered through Principled and Ethical Stem Cell Research Act' or the `HOPE Act'. Part H of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 289 et seq.) is amended (Note: THIS IS THE SECTION OF FEDERAL LAW GOVERNING WHAT FORMS OF STEM CELL RESEARCH MAY BE FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT) by inserting after section 498C the following: `SEC. 498D. HUMAN PLURIPOTENT STEM CELL RESEARCH. `(a) ... The Secretary shall conduct and support basic and applied research to develop techniques for the isolation, derivation, production, or testing of stem cells...provided that (it) will not involve- `(1) the creation of a human embryo or embryos for research purposes; (emphasis added--THIS SECTION BANS FUNDING FOR SCNT, AS LATER SPECIFIED IN THE BILL) or `(2) the destruction or discarding of, or risk of injury to, a human embryo or embryos other than those that are naturally dead. (emphasis added-THIS SECTION BANS FUNDING FOR THE CURRENT METHOD MAKING NEW STEM CELL LINES FROM IN VITRO FERTILITY-DONATED BLASTOCYSTS)... `(b) Guidelines ... the Secretary... shall issue final guidelines that-- `(1) provide guidance concerning the next steps required for additional research... (POLITICIANS MAKING SCIENTIFIC DECISIONS) `(2) prioritize research with the greatest potential for near-term clinical benefit; (THIS COULD "LEGITIMIZE" THE CONTINUED OVERWHELMING EMPHASIS ON ADULT STEM CELL RESEARCH) `(3) consistent with standards established under subsection (a), take into account techniques outlined by the President's Council on Bioethics (THE PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL IS COMPOSED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY OF ANTI-EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH INDIVIDUALS) and any other appropriate techniques and research; and `(4) in the case of research involving stem cells from a naturally dead embryo, require assurances from grant applicants that no alteration of the timing, methods, or procedures used to create, maintain, or intervene in the development of a human embryo was made solely for the purpose of deriving the stem cells. (SCIENTISTS HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED DOUBTS ON THE USEFULNESS OF SUCH "DEAD" BLASTOCYSTS.) ... `(d) Rule of Construction- Nothing in this section shall be construed as altering the policy in effect on the date of enactment of this section regarding the eligibility of stem cell lines for funding by the National Institutes of Health. (THIS ALLOWS THE EXTREMELY LIMITED BUSH POLICY TO CONTINUE)... `(2) HUMAN EMBRYO OR EMBRYOS- The term `human embryo or embryos' includes any organism, not protected as a human subject under part 46 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, as of the date of enactment of this section, that is derived by fertilization, parthenogenesis, cloning, or any other means from one or more human gametes or human diploid cells. (emphasis added). THIS DEFINITION PLACES A FALSE INTERPRETATION INTO LAW: SCNT DERIVES STEM CELLS THROUGH AN EMPTY EGG LIKE A WOMAN LOSES EVERY MONTH, AND A SKIN CELL: THERE IS NO SPERM, NO IMPLANTATION IN THE WOMB, NO WOMB, AND NO POSSIBLE INFANT-BUT IF THE CELLS DERIVING FROM SCNT CAN BE LEGALLY DEFINED AS AN EMBRYO, THE RESEARCH COULD NEVER BE FUNDED BY THIS ACT. `(3) RISK OF INJURY- The term `risk of injury' means subjecting a human embryo or embryos to risk of injury or death greater than that allowed for research on fetuses in utero under section 46.204(b) of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, and section 498(b) of this Act.'.-(HERE WE HAVE POSSIBLE LEGAL PRECEDENT THAT A BLASTOCYST HAS LEGAL PROTECTION EQUIVALENT TO A FETUS-IF CELLS CAN BE GIVEN FULL HUMAN STATUS, ALL OF EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH COULD BE CRIMINALIZED.) (a) In General- The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall enter into a contract with the Institute of Medicine for the conduct of a study to recommend an optimal structure for an amniotic and placental stem cell bank program ... (THIS IS THE HARMLESS PORTION OF THE BILL, WHICH IS USUALLY CITED, WITHOUT MENTIONING THE ABOVE RESTRICTIONS). Fortunately, we can now see what the enemies of research are up to, and can organize accordingly, working with our leaders to defeat their plans. In the book, Earth united to defeat the fictional "crystal horde" . And so must we, working together to protect real hope by defeating its counterfeit. Here, for example, is a letter from the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research about the Florida "Hope Act". Senate President Ken Pruitt Florida Senate The Capitol, Suite 409 404 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100 Via Facsimile: 1-888-263-7895 Dear Senate President: I am writing on behalf of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR) regarding legislation currently before the Florida State Legislature. CAMR represents the voices of patients, scientists, physicians and academic institutions across the country in the debate over stem cell research and the future of regenerative medicine. We have grassroots members from patient and other advocacy organizations in every state in the nation, including Florida. We join with patient groups, leading scientists, the National Academy of Sciences, and a large majority of the American people in wanting to provide hope to the millions of Americans who suffer from diseases for which there is no cure or even adequate treatments. However, despite its name, the "Florida Hope Offered through Principled, Ethically Sound Stem Cell Research Act," (HB 1065/S 2496) will not offer that needed hope. The provision in this bill which specifically prohibits funds under this program from being used in embryonic stem cell research would mean a virtual prohibition on state-funded embryonic stem cell research in Florida. While our coalition and all the members it represents are supportive of all forms of stem cell research, we strongly agree with the overwhelming opinion of scientific experts in this field that to eliminate embryonic from the funded research opportunities would be eliminating the most promising form of research that we have at this time. For this reason, CAMR strongly opposes HB 1065. In contrast, we do support in the principle behind HB 555/SB 750. For as long as this country's researchers are struggling to pursue promising scientific research under the limitations imposed by the federal policy, we are supportive of state efforts that seek to fund promising regenerative medicine research projects that might, but for the President's restrictive policy, be funded by the federal government. Sincerely, Sean Tipton President ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn