Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act

ALTERNATIVE PLURIPOTENT STEM CELL THERAPIES ENHANCEMENT ACT

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Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, I just want to give this audience here three reasons to support this bill: first, it funds groundbreaking stem cell research. The types of stem cells promoted by S. 2754 possess similar potential to differentiate into any cell in the human body as embryonic stem cells. This bill authorizes funding for pluripotent stem cell techniques that do not involve the derivation from a human embryo.

Two, it is noncontroversial. It does not authorize Federal funding for research that would create, discard, destroy, knowingly harm human embryos or fetuses, avoiding this sensitive and controversial issue. Pluripotent stem cells derived from methods that do not result in the destruction of human embryos possess the ability to differentiate into all human cells, just like embryonic stem cells. This bill does not mandate any techniques or methods for deriving or creating alternative pluripotent stem cells. It simply establishes the guidelines for the type of research authorized for funding.

Finally, it supports scientific research. Researchers exploring alternative methods of deriving stem cells will benefit from Federal funding.

Mr. Speaker, no one in this room is untouched by the need to have good quality research. In my own family, my cousin has Lou Gehrig's disease. We need responsible research. This is responsible research.

Background: Scientists believe that stem cell therapies may be used to treat a wide variety of illnesses, from degenerative neurological diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Lou Gehrig's, to other conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

Pluripotent stem cells, of which embryonic stem cells are one type, can produce all of the cell types of the developing body. However, they need not be derived from human embryos.

A May 2005 White Paper published by the President's Council on Bioethics described, in depth, various methods of deriving pluripotent stem cells without destroying embryos.

In keeping with the recommendations of the President's 2001 policy on Federal stem cell research and the Dickey amendment, S. 2754 would authorize appropriations for the Secretary of HHS to conduct research into developing techniques ``for the isolation, derivation, production, or testing'' of pluripotent stem cells that do not involve the destruction of human embryos.

Bottom Line: S. 2754 will allow federal funding for stem cell research that is ethically sound because embryos will neither be created, harmed, nor destroyed.

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