Posted by
cehwiedel on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 9:37:17 PM
The esteemed senior senator from California yesterday issued a
press release in support of H.R. 810, which would authorize the use of federal funds to perform embryonic stem cell research beyond the currently existing stem-cell lines. In other words, it would authorize federal funding of the destruction of human embryos for scientific research.
At this time, the
official Senate website has not yet posted the record votes for today, but I will assume that Senator Feinstein — and Senator Boxer — voted in favor of the bill. I have read elsewhere that the
bill passed, and that President Bush is expected to veto it. The 63 votes in favor are not enough to override the veto.
It is important to realize that this bill is not necessary. The federal government already funds research on existing embryonic stem-cell lines. Adult stem cells and stem cells from umbilical cord blood have already been shown effective. Crossing the moral line and authorizing government-sanctioned destruction of human embryos for scientific research is not necessary to further investigation into possible new medical treatments.
[You are invited to visit
www.cehwiedel.com, where I write on many topics other than the members of the California delegation to the United States Senate.]