House Passes Stem Cell Research Bill; White House Threatens Veto

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed HR 3, The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007. The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct and support research that utilizes human embryonic stem cells, regardless of the date on which the stem cells were derived from a human embryo. Limits such research to stem cells that meet the following ethical requirements: (1) the stem cells were derived from human embryos donated from in vitro fertilization clinics for the purpose of fertility treatment and were in excess of the needs of the individuals seeking such treatment; (2) the embryos would never be implanted in a woman and would otherwise be discarded; and (3) such individuals donate the embryos with written informed consent and receive no financial or other inducements.

In a press release issued immediately after passage, the Office of Management and Budget warned that

[t]he Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 3, which would use Federal taxpayer dollars to support and encourage the destruction of human life for research. The bill would compel all American taxpayers to pay for research that relies on the intentional destruction of human embryos for the derivation of stem cells, overturning the President’s policy that funds research without promoting such ongoing destruction. If H.R. 3 were presented to the President, he would veto the bill.

(Emphasis in the original).

HR 3 passed by a vote of 253 - 174, short of the required two-thirds majority that would make the current bill veto-proof in the House.

Digital Resources:

• Text of HR 3
• Library of Congress Thomas Resources
• Administration Press Release
• Follow the story using Google News Search

[JH]