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Skriven 2007-06-20 23:30:58 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0706205) for Wed, 2007 Jun 20
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Message to the Senate of the United States
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary June 20, 2007

Message to the Senate of the United States

˙˙White House News

˙˙˙˙˙ President Bush Discusses Stem Cell Veto and Executive Order ˙˙˙˙˙
Fact Sheet: Advancing Stem Cell Research While Respecting Moral Boundaries
˙˙˙˙˙ Executive Order: Expanding Approved Stem Cell Lines in Ethically
Responsible Ways

TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES:

I am returning herewith without my approval S. 5, the "Stem Cell Research
Enhancement Act of 2007."

Once again, the Congress has sent me legislation that would compel American
taxpayers, for the first time in our history, to support the deliberate
destruction of human embryos.

In 2001, I announced a policy to advance stem cell research in a way that
is ambitious, ethical, and effective. I became the first President to make
Federal funds available for embryonic stem cell research, and my policy did
this in ways that would not encourage the destruction of embryos. Since
then, my Administration has made more than $130 million available for
research on stem cell lines derived from embryos that had already been
destroyed. We have also provided more than $3 billion for research on all
forms of stem cells, including those from adult and other non-embryonic
sources.

This careful approach is producing results. It has contributed to proven
therapeutic treatments in thousands of patients with many different
diseases. And it is opening the prospect of new discoveries that could
transform lives. Researchers are now developing promising new techniques
that offer the potential to produce pluripotent stem cells, without having
to destroy human life -- for example, by reprogramming adult cells to make
them function like stem cells.

Technical innovation in this difficult area is opening up new possibilities
for progress without conflict or ethical controversy. Researchers pursuing
these kinds of ethically responsible advances deserve support, and there is
legislation in the Congress to give them that support. Bills supporting
alternative research methods achieved majority support last year in both
the House and the Senate. Earlier this spring another

bill supporting alternative research won overwhelming majority support in
the Senate, and I call on House leaders to pass similar legislation that
would authorize additional funds for ethical stem cell research. We cannot
lose the opportunity to conduct research that would give hope to those
suffering from terrible diseases and help move our Nation beyond the
controversies over embryo destruction. I invite policymakers and scientists
to come together to solve medical problems without compromising either the
high aims of science or the sanctity of human life.

S. 5, like the bill I vetoed last year, would overturn today's carefully
balanced policy on stem cell research. Compelling American taxpayers to
support the deliberate destruction

of human embryos would be a grave mistake. I will not allow our Nation to
cross this moral line. For that reason, I must veto this bill.

GEORGE W. BUSH

THE WHITE HOUSE,

June 20, 2007.

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