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Gingrey to introduce ETHICAL stem cell legislation
Funds embryonic stem cell research that won’t kill embryos; Democrats refuse to consider ethical options

Stem Cells

Washington, Jan 8, 2007 - U.S. Congressmen Phil Gingrey, M.D. (R-GA) and Roscoe Bartlett, Ph.D. (R-MD) will introduce tomorrow an ethical alternative to the DeGette-Castle stem cell bill (H.R. 3). The Bartlett-Gingrey legislation authorizes federal funding for research to derive pluripotent (embryonic-like) stem cell lines without creating or destroying human embryos – an ethical process that respects the sanctity of life.

Today’s news that “A type of cell that floats freely in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women has been found to have many of the same traits as embryonic stem cells, including an ability to grow into brain, muscle and other tissues that could be used to treat a variety of diseases,” (Washington Post, 01/08/07) underlines the critical importance of funding alternative research not covered by the DeGette-Castle bill. Yet the new Democrat majority has given no indication they will bring up any alternative to H.R. 3, showing their leadership’s commitment only to stem cell research that destroys human life.

“As a pro-life OB-GYN physician, I know we don’t have to sacrifice human life in order to research ways to save it," said Gingrey.  "Our bill allows Congress to side-step the moral questions surrounding embryonic stem cell research. In America, we do things the right way. We don’t take organs from death row prisoners because they are ‘going to die anyway.’ Neither should we steal the life of a fertilization clinic embryo just because there’s a chance it won’t be used to impregnate a woman. The Democrats are unwilling to fund promising ethical alternatives to DeGette-Castle. This is a misuse of taxpayer dollars.”

Last year, a majority of the House voted to pass similar Bartlett-Gingrey legislation (H.R. 5526/S. 2754), though the legislation did not achieve the 2/3rds majority required to pass on suspension.