Stem Cell Research

“Every dollar we invest in stem cell research holds the promise of saving lives and achieving significant breakthroughs in human health”-Neil Cohen (Star Ledger)

Democratic Union

President George Bush opposes federal funding for research involving stem cells derived from human embryos on moral and ideological grounds. His decision to limit funding creates substantial consequences for our country in the future. Other countries have found that the impending benefits of stem cell research far outweigh the morale controversy affiliated with this issue. As a result, the United States is being left further and further behind in the 21st century science. By restricting American resources from this field, the government is slowing the progress that could lead to cures for diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s, and much more. Limited support from the government on this divisive issue has affected the financial situation of private labs. The funding provided to private labs has proved to be inadequate for large scale development in this area. Because of the absence of federal funding for research on stem cells the United States lacks the knowledge comparable to other countries whose recognition of the medical possibilities for advancement in stem cell research is superior to that of the U.S. Federally funded research would advance medical and scientific recognition of stem cells in the United States.

“Stem cell research is still at an early, uncertain stage, but the hope it offers is amazing: infinitely adaptable human cells to replace damaged or defective tissue and treat a wide variety of diseases. Yet the ethics of medicine are not infinitely adaptable. There is at least one bright line: We do not end some lives for the medical benefit of others. For me, this is a matter of conviction: a belief that life, including early life, is biologically human, genetically distinct and valuable.” -- President George W. Bush; August 12, 2001 U.S. President George W Bush has approved federal funding for limited medical research on stem cells extracted from human embryos. As of August 2001 Mr. Bush announced the decision to support limited federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research. This decision incorporated that no more stem cell lines be created following that date. “Under current federal policy on human embryonic stem cell research, only those stem cell lines derived before August 9, 2001 are eligible for federally funded research.”-Tom Allen

President George Bush believes research on stem cells needs to continue although he won’t provide federal financial support. Because of moral concerns over the destruction of human embryonic cells, the Bush administration banned the use of federal money for research when using embryonic cells. In 2005 Congress introduced a bill to allow all stem cell research to be federally funded but to their consternation President Bush implemented the first veto of his presidency (MSNBC). President Bush emphasized the fact the stem cells can be derived from other sources than embryos, including adult cells, umbilical cord cells, and human placenta and skin cells. Also, patients are currently being successfully treated with these cells rather than embryonic cells. While Bush will not fund stem cell research

when embryonic cells are used he promises to federally support research conducted with mature cells. This national debate has been confronted but left much of society

less than satisfied with the lack of federal financial support. “I have made this decision with great care, and I pray that it is the right one,"-George W Bush

Stem cell research in general is very controversial because of the ethical and moral issues that surround it. Countries other than the United States have discarded these concerns by recognizing the promising results that this research could generate. This view has prevailed over the ethical issues associated with stem cell research. As a result, other countries have further developed their knowledge on stem cells and are pushing towards significant medical advancements. While the United States continues its scientific and medical research in this area the rest of the world proves to be approaching a breakthrough in the research of stem cells. Today, Americans looking into stem cell transplants are forced to seek help beyond the U.S. borders, due to the fact that the United States isn’t prepared or knowledgeable enough to take on stem cell transplants. Diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s, as well as spinal cord injuries and birth defects, could