Two stem cell bills may come up for a vote today in the House. One would create a national umbilical cord bank and provide federal funding for ongoing research into stem cell therapy; the other (HR 810) would allow federally funded researchers to use discarded embryos from fertility clinics to explore new stem cell lines. President Bush has said he would veto the latter.
Overseeing stem cell work will be up to Michael Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services, the man that Robert K. Musil, executive director of Physicians for Social Responsibility, said has "consistently undercut and failed to enforce regulations to protect public health.”
The HHS budget for FY 2006 is $642 billion; much of this is earmarked for mandatory programs such as Medicaid. From the $642 billion, the discretionary portion totals $67 billion in budget authority and $71 billion in program level.
This is where stem cell research must compete with the CDC, the NIH, and FDA among others.
What will stem cell funding then amount to? Leavitt will decide – Leavitt whose position generally resembles the President’s.
Our Cabinet members wield billions of dollars and it is at their discretion how the money is spent. Let Michael Leavitt know where you want it to go. Call him at 202-619-0257 or 202-690-7000. Fax him at 202-690-7203. Or write him at 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington DC 20201.
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Written in conjunction with Jennifer Hicks.
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