Bennett said in a statement that stem cell research "provides great hope for the many Americans affected by debilitating diseases today."

"Federal involvement will not only help move this promising science forward, but it will ensure that it occurs under strict ethical and procedural guidelines," Bennett said.

Bennett said "the Coleman-Isakson compromise makes a lot of sense" and if the House opts to not take up the bill "it will be clear that they are playing politics with this very important issue."

In his floor speech, Hatch offered a top 10 list of reasons the bill should pass based on conversations he has had with University of Utah researcher Dr. Mario Capecchi — one of the "true pioneers of embryonic stem cell research," Hatch said.

The reasons included everything from the potential to find cures for diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's and other illnesses to the fact embryonic stem cells grow faster than adult stem cells, which is beneficial for medical applications and for the "health and economic implications," which the senator called "enormous."

"Other countries have recognized this potential," Hatch said. "They are heavily investing in embryonic stem cell research. Our country is in grave danger of falling behind in one of the most promising fields of biomedical research."

Hatch emphasized that he has a "long, proud and strong record as a right-to-life Senator" but that he can still support the bill.

"Because I do not consider a frozen embryo to be a human life until is implanted in a woman's uterus," Hatch said. "(The bill) allocates federal research funding to embryonic stem cells derived from frozen embryos that are to be discarded. In fact, thousands of such embryos are routinely discarded each year."

Hatch admitted that some Utah residents object to his support of stem-cell research but that since he came out in favor of it in 2001, "the majority of Utahns and the majority of Americans have come to support the use of federal funds for embryonic stem cell research conducted under ethical guidelines."

Hatch said during this floor speech that there has been a "steady stream" of Utah constituents who have come to his office with various diseases urging him to continue to support stem cell research.

"They all want hope," Hatch said.

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E-mail: suzanne@desnews.com