In April 2004, more than 200 members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent President Bush a letter, asking him to increase the number of human embryonic stem cell lines that should be eligible for public funding. Two months later, a group of U.S. Senators backed up their colleagues in the House and sent a similar letter to the White House. In essence, the signers were trying to get the President to change his mind about stem cell lines used for research so that Congress does not have to create a legislative solution.
Read more: New Support for Stem Cell Research Seen in U.S. Congress
On 9 August 2001, President George W. Bush made a long-awaited announcement
regarding research on human embryonic stem cells. The President declared
that federal funds could be used to support research on cell lines that
were already in existence on that date. He also said that no federal dollars
could be used in research on new human embryonic cell lines. At the time,
many scientists were pleased that the research was not banned altogether.
Others were disappointed that the White House had effectively prohibited
the creation of new stem cell lines using federal funding.
of President Bush’s announcement
Although some 70 different human embryonic stem cell lines are eligible
for use in federally funded research, it appears that in reality only
about nine or so are of immediate use to scientists. As researchers look
ahead to potential clinical trials with stem cells, it is becoming apparent
that few, if any, of these lines will have any therapeutic value, in part
because they were grown along with “feeder” cells from mice.
Many researchers would prefer to work on “all human” culture
systems, but the development of these systems has been blocked by the
White House’s regulations.
In large part as a result of the President’s decision, the U.S.
Congress has taken a renewed interest in legislation regulating embryo
research. Most recently, in February 2003, Senator Arlen Specter, Republican
of Pennsylvania, and others introduced legislation that would expand research
options by allowing cells to be newly isolated from embryos, including
cloned embryos—those created for research purposes only and not
through fertilization. The legislation would outlaw reproductive cloning.
303: Human Cloning Ban and Stem Cell Research Protection Act of 2003
STATUS: referred to committee 5 February 2003
Although embryonic stem cell research is not illegal in the United States, two states, California and New Jersey, have passed legislation permitting it and others are considering such laws.
Californians Approve $3 Billion for Stem Cells
On November 2, 2004, voters in California approved Proposition 71, which allows the state to borrow $3 billion for research on stem cells. The measure passed with 59 percent of the vote.
Californians to Vote on Funding Stem Cell Research
Voters in California will be the first in the country to cast ballots on an initiative that supports human stem cell research in a concrete way: by providing funding. The Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative would authorize the sale of about $3 billion bonds over the course of ten years. The bulk of the money raised by the bonds would go to support a wide range of stem cell research.
The proposal would also create a new entity, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. This institute would distribute grants and loans to individual researchers and research programs, as well as develop regulatory standards and create new research facilities as needed. The initiative, Proposition 71, will appear on the ballot November 2nd, 2004.
California is at the forefront of a new push not only to allow but also to encourage stem cell research. A new law signed on 23 September 2002 by Governor Gray Davis specifically allows research on embryos, including the use of cloned embryos. The law prohibits reproductive cloning. The law does not appropriate funds specifically for research, but research centers may direct non-federal money to stem cell studies.
California current stem cell law
| Text of Proposition 71, including analysis and arguments (PDF)
California is at the forefront of a new push not only to allow but
also to encourage stem cell research. A new law signed on 23 September
2002 by Governor Gray Davis specifically allows research on embryos,
including the use of cloned embryos. The law prohibits reproductive
cloning. The law does not appropriate funds specifically for research,
but research centers may direct non-federal money to stem cell studies.
California current stem cell law
SB771 (Legislation dealing with human
cells: stem cell research and egg cell donation)
(amended 21 April 2003)
(amended 21 April 2003)
In addition, California Health & Safety Codes (§ 123440, 24185,
24187, 24189, 12115-7) and Business & Professions Codes( §16004,
§16105) provide for the revocation of licenses issued to businesses
for violations relating to human cloning. The codes also prohibit the
purchase or sale of ovum, zygote, embryo, or fetus for the purpose of
cloning human beings. There are civil penalties for violations. (Source:
National Conference of State Legislatures.)
New Jersey is frequently on the cutting edge of science and public policy. It is now the second state (after California) to pass legislation allowing embryonic stem cell research.
A law signed on January 2, 2004, by Governor James E. McGreevey permits research and use of human embryonic stem cells, germ cells, and human adult stem cells from any source. It also requires physicians treating infertility patients to provide these patients with information about donating human embryos after infertility treatment.