Congressman Aderholt Votes to Uphold Presidential Veto

CONGRESSMAN ADERHOLT VOTES TO UPHOLD PRESIDENTIAL VETO

Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) today voted to uphold President Bush's veto of H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005. The President's veto was sustained; the vote of 235 to 193 failed to get the necessary 2/3 majority required to override the veto.

"With today's vote, the House has placed itself alongside the millions of Americans who believe that all life is precious, even at its earliest stages," stated Congressman Aderholt. "This bill would have encouraged research that would have intentionally destroyed living human embryos simply to harvest their cells and that's not right."

If not vetoed and sustained by the House, H.R. 810 would have made taxpayer dollars available for embryonic stem cell research using embryos remaining from in vitro fertilization procedures. The bill was originally passed by the House of Representatives in May 2005. Congressman Aderholt voted against the bill at that time.

Congressman Aderholt continued, "Taxpayers should not be forced to fund what some consider morally wrong medical research such as this. We should be focusing our resources on proven, successful adult stem cell research that is working to produce real, meaningful results today."

"Proponents of embryonic stem cell research point to the potential life saving benefits that such efforts could provide. I support that noble goal, but destroying one life to save another is not the way to accomplish it," concluded Congressman Aderholt.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/al04_aderholt/71906StemCellVeto.html