Senate Passes Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act; President Reiterates Intention to Veto

April 11, 2007 – As widely expected, the U.S. Senate passed its version of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (S. 5) by a vote of 63 to 34. The Society thanks all those who participated in recent advocacy campaigns on this issue.

Though originally identical to H.R. 3, which passed the House in January, S. 5 was slightly modified prior to a vote by the full Senate. In addition to including the provisions contained in the House bill, S. 5 also includes language requiring the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to pursue other forms of stem cell research and to research and fund methods of creating embryonic stem cell lines without destroying embryos.

The Senate also considered and passed a bill sponsored by Senators Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) (S. 30, the Hope Offered through Principled and Ethical Stem Cell Research Act). ASH did not endorse this bill because it will permanently limit federal funding on embryonic stem cell research. Coleman and Isakson have argued that their bill would allow stem cell lines derived from so-called “dead embryos” to be eligible for federally funded research but, in fact, the bill would not alter the prohibition against federally funded research on stem cell lines derived after August 9, 2001. For additional information on S. 5 and S. 30, please see the “Myths and Facts” document about the bills in the ASH Advocacy Center.

The House and Senate must negotiate a final bill because of differences between H.R. 3 and S. 5 before sending the bill to the president, who has indicated that he will once again veto this legislation, setting the stage for a possible vote in the Senate to override the presidential veto. ASH will keep members apprised of all developments on this issue.