Congress Sends Stem Cell Bill to Bush for Certain Veto

My friend and law school classmate Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) is the principal proponent of the House bill to expand federal funding of research using embryonic stem cells that would otherwise be discarded by fertility clinics. It passed today, but without enough votes to override the veto that President Bush is certain to issue:

The House vote to send the measure to President Bush was 247-176, 35 short of the level needed to override a second veto in as many years on the issue.

"For many, embryonic stem cell research is the most promising source of potential treatments and cures" for debilitating disease, said Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colorado, the bill's leading advocate. "Unfortunately, because of the stubbornness of one man -- President Bush -- these people continue to suffer as they wait," she added.

It is frustrating to me that GOP opponents continue to claim that research using embryonic stem cells is unnecessary because some preliminary studies using non-embryonic stem cells from animals indicate that maybe - maybe - non-embryonic stem cells from humans may one day be an alternative to embryonic stem cells for this purpose. That prospect is not certain and is years away, and people with debilitating and terminal illnesses who might benefit from this research need for it to be supported now.