Bringing the Hopes of Stem Cell Research One Giant Step Closer to Reality

The Democrats aren't wasting any time bringing a new, more hopeful agenda for the American people -- one of the first ten bills introduced by Congress today is legislation that will lift the President's restrictions on stem cell research.

This issue is very important to me and millions of Americans because stem cell research offers hope. Hope for people with Lou Gehrig's disease. Hope for people with Parkinson's. Hope for people with spinal cord injuries, and diabetes, and cancer.

This Congress, we will fight to bring these hopes one giant step closer to reality and finally give our nation's best scientists the tools they need to produce treatments and cures.

The bill we're introducing today, S.5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, is exactly the same as the bill that both houses of Congress passed last year, with strong bipartisan majorities. We didn't change a word. The House passed it 238 to 194, and the Senate passed it 63 to 37.

Regrettably, the President chose to exercise the first -- and, so far, the only -- veto of his administration to reject the bill. He ignored the overwhelming majority of the American people. He ignored scores of Nobel laureates. He ignored his top scientists at the National Institutes of Health. And with one stroke of his pen, he dashed the hopes of millions.

But we're back, and the voices of hope are stronger than ever. Your generosity today can make a difference on all of these fronts.

So as I thank you and let me close by saying I would be personally grateful for any contribution that you can send at this time. Thanks again for again for your efforts to join me in our fight.

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Tom Harkin.com