(Washington, D.C.)–During today's floor debate on the Fiscal Year 2005 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Act, Congressman Jim Langevin will employ a parliamentary procedure to highlight the issue of stem cell research and urge his colleagues to reconsider existing restrictions.  Langevin will lead a debate that calls for Congress to overturn President Bush’s restrictions on the promising research and expand federal support and oversight. 

Three years ago, the Bush Administration enacted restrictive regulations that allow federal funding for research solely on those stem cell lines derived prior to August of 2001.

 “Expanding federal support for stem cell research would provide medical researchers, working under strict ethical guidelines, with additional resources to continue their efforts to unlock potential life-saving therapies,” said Congressman Langevin.  “Restricting the number of stem cell lines available to researchers and under-funding that research does a disservice to the millions suffering from Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, cancer and even spinal cord injuries.  Stem cell research holds great potential for combating some of nature’s cruelest diseases, and the White House is impeding groundbreaking progress in this innovative research."

Recently, Representatives Mike Castle (R-DE), Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Langevin introduced the bi-partisan Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, which would direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund research on stem cell lines derived after August 9, 2001.  Under the bill, only those excess embryonic stem cells derived from in vitro fertilization and slated for destruction could be used for research, with government oversight to ensure ethical research procedures.

During his Congressional tenure, Langevin has been a strong proponent of increasing government funding and expanding the number of stem cell lines available for research beyond the limits set by President Bush in August of 2001. He has written to the President on multiple occasions, urging him to reconsider current restrictions on stem cell research, testified before a Senate Committee in favor of funding for the research and appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press in August of 2001 to argue for expanded research, as well as increased federal oversight to address ethical concerns.

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