Embryonic stem cell bill is dead

The United States Senate voted to pass S. 5, the "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act." Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council, issued the following statement:

"Rather than defend human dignity, a majority of Senators approved legislation to force taxpayers to fund research that requires the destruction of human life. Nevertheless, this bill fell short of the two thirds majority necessary to override the president's promised veto.

"I welcome the ethical stand thirty four Senators embraced to oppose forcing taxpayers to fund research that requires the destruction of embryonic human life. I particularly applaud the support of Republicans Mitch McConnell and Sam Brownback, as well as Democrats Ben Nelson and Bob Casey for their hard work.

"Now that S. 5 is dead, we should immediately expand on adult stem cell research that is treating people now, like the study just published yesterday in JAMA in which diabetic patients were treated successfully. This study done in Brazil showed that, for the first time, adult stem cells were used to treat 13 patients with diabetes. This is precisely the type of stem cell research we should be expanding here in the U.S."