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March 20, 2007 The Honorable Pamela Maier 12 Chadd Road Newark, DE 19711 RE: Support SB 5 Dear Representative Maier: I am writing on behalf of myself and people like me who suffer from Parkinson's disease regarding legislation currently before the Delaware General Assembly. Patient groups, leading scientists, the National Academy of Sciences, and a large majority of the American people oppose human reproductive cloning and implantation. However, the Delaware Human Cloning Prohibition Act (HB 76) prohibits somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) research. SCNT is an important procedure that is fundamentally different from reproductive cloning and aims to save and improve lives. It must not be banned or criminalized.. The better approach is offered through the Delaware Regenerative Medicine Act (SB 5). This bill not only would promote stem cell research in Delaware, but also contains provisions to ban human reproductive cloning without banning SCNT. SCNT could be used to help nearly 100 million Americans suffering from cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes, Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, heart disease, ALS, and other devastating conditions for which treatments and cures must still be found. The recent reversal of the ban on SCNT research in Iowa should encourage the state of Delaware to move forward with important stem cell research such as SCNT. Disease and disability is not a problem restricted to Delaware, nor to one class of people. What Delaware does affects the world. Sincerely, Rayilyn Brown, Board Member Arizona Chapter National Parkinson's Foundation [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn