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EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: May 24, 2006 at 9:30 a.m.
Contact: Carol Blymire, 301.332.8090
Sarah Youngerman, 651.485.7171
STATEMENT TO THE MEDIA
The following statement may be attributed to Sean Tipton, president, Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research:
“Today is the one-year anniversary of House passage of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (H.R. 810), and still, there has been no action in the Senate.
“Many things have happened in the past year, since the House passed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act:
- 1,000 bills were introduced;
- 465 of them passed in the Senate; and
- 124 bills were presented to the President of the United States.
“However, while the Senate was considering those 1,000 bills, passing 465 of them, and sending 124 to the White House:
- 1.4 million Americans were diagnosed with cancer;
- 60,000 Americans were diagnosed with Parkinson’s;
- 11,000 Americans suffered spinal cord injuries; and
- 1.5 million adults were diagnosed with diabetes.
“And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Many millions more already-diagnosed Americans continued to suffer from cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, spinal cord injuries, and other debilitating diseases and disorders that scientists and the medical community believe can be better treated or cured through advances with embryonic stem cell research.
“In fact, earlier this month, the Senate spent time debating medical malpractice and other related legislation in a week they dubbed ‘Health Week.’ But, Senate Majority Leader Frist (R-TN) refused to schedule a vote on H.R. 810 – the one bill that holds the promise of a healthier America, thus reducing the cost of healthcare for Americans.
“Perhaps its time to remind Senate Majority Leader Frist of his own words, spoken last July after H.R. 810 passed the House with strong bipartisan support, when he said, ‘I believe the President's policy should be modified. We should expand federal funding … The promise is powerful enough that I believe this research deserves our increased energy and focus. Embryonic stem cell research must be supported.’
“Senator Frist’s words gave hope to millions of Americans, as well as the science and medical communities around the world. However, on this one-year anniversary of H.R. 810 with no Senate action, those same millions who once hoped for better treatments and cures now feel duped and are angrier than ever before.
“On behalf of CAMR, its members, and stem cell research advocates everywhere, I want to remind Senator Frist that tens of millions of patients, their families, their caregivers, as well as doctors and scientists have been counting on him to bring the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act to the Senate for a vote. As Senate Majority Leader, he is in a unique and pivotal position to have the Senate act on H.R. 810, and we have been waiting for a year for him to do so.
“As it does with other kinds of promising technological and medical research, CAMR believes the federal government must fund human embryonic stem cell research. CAMR calls on the Senate to vote for H.R. 810 with no amendments and no alternatives. We believe this bill will pass, but if it is not scheduled for a vote, we not only risk the lives and well-being of millions of Americans and their families, we also risk losing America’s leadership position in the fields of science and medicine.”
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