House OKs greater stem-cell use

WASHINGTON — The House lifted restrictions on federal support of embryonic stem cell research by passing another portion of the Democrats' 100-hour agenda Thursday.

But President Bush still is expected to veto the bill.

The measure passed the House 253 to 174, and the Senate is expected to pass it next month. Bush vetoed the same legislation last year and is set to do it again.

Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, voted in favor of the bill, while Rep. Chris Cannon and Rep. Rob Bishop, both R-Utah, voted against it.

The nearly daylong debate on the issues had members telling personal stories of illness that stem-cell research may be found to cure, while those against the bill claimed current research is fine without the need for stem-cell components, among a host of other arguments.

The White House instituted a policy in 2001 stating taxpayer money could only be used to study about 21 types of stem cells from human embryos. That limited government researchers at that time to only a small portion of the 400 proposed research projects that exist.

The bill passed would allow federal funding of work on cells from embryos donated by parents or due to be discarded by reproductive clinics. It bans the sale of embryos and also creates ethics standards for the research.

Matheson, who is an original co-sponsor of the bill, said the legislation allows funding only within narrow limits and under strict ethical guidelines.

"I have heard from many Utahns who have, or care for family members who suffer from terrible diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and diabetes," Matheson said. "All hold onto the hope this scientific advancement offers for a cure. This measure requires that the research be ethically conducted in an open and transparent environment, with government oversight and accountability. For those in need, it can't come too soon."

But Cannon said "we should not sacrifice life in the pursuit of science."

"Both the Senate and the House passed legislation last year that provides for embryonic research that does not involve the creation or destruction of human life, but the Democratic leadership has chosen not to follow that approach." Cannon said.

Bishop said he supports stem cell research that does not require the destruction of human embryos, a provision embryonic stem cell research does not allow.

"It crosses the line as far as what is moral and ethical and what we will do with one potential innocent life to benefit another life," Bishop said. "Human life is sacred, and I think that embryonic stem cell research, in which potential life is destroyed, contributes to our society becoming more and more cavalier about life and its purpose and value."