US Senate seeks to ease restrictions on stem cell research
The US Senate has voted to lift the restrictions on using federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, which were introduced by President George Bush when he came to power in 2001. While the legalisation was passed by a majority of 63 votes to 24, it falls short of the two-thirds needed to override an expected presidential veto. Embryonic stem cells are attractive to researchers as they could provide medical breakthroughs for the treatment of various medical conditions, such as diabetes, Parkinson's and spinal cord injury. Proponents argue that the research would be carried out on embryos that would otherwise be discarded by fertility clinics.Those against believe that using embryos for research is ethically wrong. Speaking prior to the vote, a spokesperson at the White House said that Mr Bush intends to use his powers to veto the legislation as he did in 2006 when both houses of Congress passed a similar bill. 'This legislation crosses a moral line that would use taxpayer dollars to destroy human embryos. And that's a moral line the President said he would not cross, and for those reasons he would veto this bill, as well,' said the spokesperson. Also speaking prior to the Senate vote, Senator Tom Harkin, the bill's chief sponsor, said that the new legislation would 'unleash some of the most exciting and promising research of modern times' and 'bring hope to millions of Americans who suffer from juvenile diabetes, Parkinson's, cancer, spinal cord injuries, and many other diseases and conditions.' In addition to voting to ease restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, the Senate also voted in favour of a measure to support research using adult stem cells, which has received the backing of the President.
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