Senate Hearing on March 5th About Cloning

[Steven Edwards]

The Full Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will be having a hearing on "The Dangers of Cloning and the Promise of Regenerative Medicine."

I will post some more information on the members involved later on.

-Steven

[Steven Edwards]

Edward Kennedy MA - http://www.senate.gov/~kennedy/statements/02/01/2002131418.html
The report recommends that human cloning should be prohibited, but that any such prohibition should be adopted in a way that allows legitimate areas of medical research to fulfill their potential to improve the lives of millions of Americans. I hope the Senate will consider these thoughtful recommendations carefully in the coming debate on this basic issue.

Christopher Dodd CT - http://www.senate.gov/~dodd/press/Speeches/106_00/0926.htm
If there's one thing I've learned from sitting on this committee through hundreds of hearings on scientific issues ranging from cloning to medical privacy to gene therapy, it's that technology itself is not intrinsically good or evil -- it's all in how we choose to use it.

Tom Harkin IA - http://harkin.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=179798
"Human reproductive cloning is simply wrong," Harkin said. "We must understand that there is a distinct line separating human reproductive cloning and the potential lifesaving research of TCT. My legislation would make that line an 'iron curtain,' imposing strict criminal penalties on any.person who would twist this lifesaving science for wrongful purposes."

Barbara A. Mikulski MD - http://www.senate.gov/~mikulski/veterleg.htm
I fight hard to ensure that the federal government maintains its commitment to veterans' health and medical care. I have battled against cuts in veteran health services during the recent budget debates. I have fought to ensure that mentally incompetent veterans receive full benefits and I've worked to secure funds for research into heart disease, prosthetics, spinal cord injuries and the unique health needs of veterans.

James M. Jeffords VT - http://www.senate.gov/~jeffords/499oped.html
One of the most formative periods of my life was the time from 1956 through 1959 when I served as an officer in the United States Navy.

Today, I hear from many veterans who are concerned that the promises made to them are being broken. This is unacceptable, and I am dedicated to reversing recent trends.

Jeff Bingaman NM

Hillary Clinton NY

John Edwards NC

Patty Murray WA

Jack Reed RI

Paul Wellstone MN - http://www.senate.gov/~wellstone/vethealth10.html
My dad had advanced Parkinson's disease.

Judd Gregg NH - http://www.senate.gov/~gregg/pressrel020402a.htm
"I have long championed the effort here in Washington to ensure that the Food and Drug Administration helps to speed up safe and effective medicines and medical devices.

Mike Enzi WY - http://www.senate.gov/~enzi/budgpl.htm
Enzi noted the President's budget would hold the government accountable by reforming management and budget practices and linking program funding to program results in three primary areas; winning the war on terrorism, strengthening homeland security and revitalizing the economy and creating jobs.

"This budget tells me that the President realizes that merely throwing money into a program does not ensure success. Those dollars must be used wisely," Enzi said.

Kit Bond MO

Susan Collins ME - http://collins.senate.gov/w0111112.htm
Increasing Federal Research Into Childhood Muscular Dystrophy

Mike DeWine OH - http://dewine.senate.gov/pressapp/record.cfm?id=180037
SENATE PASSES DEWINE BILL PROMOTING SAFER DRUGS FOR CHILDREN

Bill Frist TN - http://www.senate.gov/~frist/Press/NewsReleases/01-144/01-144.html
The issue of whether or not to use stem cells for medical research involves deeply held moral, religious and ethical beliefs as well as scientific and medical considerations. After grappling with the issue scientifically, ethically and morally, I conclude that both embryonic and adult stem cell research should be federally funded within a carefully regulated, fully transparent framework.

Tim Hutchinson AR - http://www.senate.gov/~hutchinson/washington_report.html
Medical breakthroughs have changed the course of human history by reducing suffering, saving lives, and ultimately enabling societies to develop and prosper. Vaccinations that halt diseases, antiseptic procedures that reduce infections, and prescription drugs that prevent illnesses are just a few examples of extraordinary medical advances that have created healthier, longer, and more productive lives.

In recent years, improvements in organ transplantation have offered a second chance at life to those suffering from the failure of a vital organ. While the success rates of transplant surgery have improved remarkably, a growing shortage exists in the supply of organs. While the waiting list for organ donation has grown significantly, the number of organs for donation has failed to keep pace. In fact, many of the almost 80,000 Americans on transplant waiting lists will die before they can receive an organ transplant.

Pat Roberts KS

Jeff Sessions AL - http://roberts.senate.gov/engineeringdeanscouncil.txt
I believe strongly in the need for engineering, science and technology research as a tool
to improve the quality of life for all Americans.

John Warner VA - http://www.senate.gov/~warner/legislation/healthcare/medicalresearch.htm
An overwhelming amount of evidence exists that indicates that embryonic stem cell research holds enormous potential for treatment, and ultimately cures, for many diseases such as Parkinson's disease, cancer, ALS, Alzheimer's, heart disease, spinal chord injuries, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and diabetes. Every year, I meet with many Virginians who suffer from these and other diseases. And, every year, many of these same individuals that I have met with in the past succumb to their disease, as no cure has been found for their illness.

Embryonic stem cell research offers a real opportunity to help save lives in the future.

-Steven

[Steven Edwards]

The list has the person's name, state, and [where available] link to a press release or statement containing the quote I provided.

Can you choose a person on the list and craft a letter employing the Senator to vote against the Brownback bill? We can divide the work amongst ourselves and help personalize the messages.

Senators Gregg, Bond, DeWine, Sessions, and Hutchinson are all backers of Brownback's bill [S.1899]. All except Bond have published statements that indicates interests that therapeutic cloning could help. Point that out to them and suggest switching their support to Feinstein's bill [S.1758] which has only one difference: it allows therapeutic cloning.

I will start on a letter to Mr. Sessions.

-Steven

[Chris Chappell]

Christopher Reeve's testimony today. Anybody catch it?

Reaction? Thoughts? Comments?

[marmalady]

I believe C-span is rebroadcasting the hearing in full tonight at 10:45.

_____________
Tough times don't last - tough people do.

[Sue Pendleton]

I missed all but a few minutes because CSPAN 1 always, always, always has the House on it not Senate. CSPAN 2 was doing oil exploration. Grrrrrr

BTW, Steven, the names on the first post? Many feel very differently about therapeutic cloning than the use of the left over embryos for stem cells. Bush has limited those embryos to those lines developed before Aug 9, 2001. Like Sen Frist supports the Brownback bill banning all cloning.

Might want to check any new stances at the senators' websites that you can find at the following link (Mikulski is very pro-therapeutic cloning still):

http://thomas.loc.gov/

or

http://apocalypse.berkshire.net/%7Eifas/activist/index1.html