Bush urged to expand stem-cell research

WASHINGTON -- Supporters of embryonic stem-cell research said yesterday they now have a majority in Congress on their side, and urged President Bush to change his policy restricting work on cells derived from human embryos.

A letter signed by 206 members of the House of Representatives asks Bush to expand his August 2001 executive order, which limited federal funds for embryonic stem-cell research.

"We would very much like to work with you to modify the current embryonic stem cell policy so that it provides this area of research the greatest opportunity to lead to the treatments and cures we are all hoping for," they wrote.

Representative Diana DeGette, a Colorado Democrat, said she believes at least 225 members of the House now support expanding federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research -- a controversial subject because some people, including Bush, believe that any experiments on human embryos are unethical.

Only 218 votes would be needed, she said, to pass legislation.

"We speak with one voice in warning the president that his current policy is chilling stem-cell research in this country," DeGette told a news conference.

DeGette and a fellow supporter Representative Michael Castle, a Delaware Republican, said they had not considered drafting a bill, but were hoping to get the White House to change policy instead.

Stem cells are master cells made by the body, which can give rise to a variety of tissues. Embryonic stem cells are considered especially powerful, as each one has the potential to become any sort of cell or tissue in the body. By studying them, scientists hope to better understand the mechanisms of disease, and perhaps tailor-make organs or tissues for transplant.

The strongest support involves one source of embryonic stem cells -- from embryos made in fertility clinics as part of in-vitro fertilization procedures. Typically a couple gets more in-vitro fertilization embryos than are needed to have children. The excess are frozen for later use or discarded.

Yesterday's letter does not address the more controversial approach of using cloning technology to make stem cells.

"If these eggs are going to be discarded, why can't they be used?" asked Representative Randy Cunningham, a California Republican. "I have been prolife for 14 years. But this is a period in which we can save lives."

The turning point for him came, Cunningham said, when a girl "with some exotic disease" approached him after a hearing on funding medical research.

"This child came up to me and said, 'Congressman, you are the only person that can save my life', and she [later] died," Cunningham said, breaking down in tears.

Bush's August 2001 policy restricted the use of federal funds to batches of embryonic stem cells, called cell lines, that existed at the moment of his announcement. The White House said the existing cell lines would be enough to allow science to proceed.

Though Bush at the time said more than 60 such lines existed, fewer than 20 of those are currently available to researchers.