Senate Majority Leader Frist Declares Support for Embryonic Stem Cell Bill

July 29, 2005—In a significant break with the Bush Administration, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, MD (R-TN) earlier today announced his support for the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (HR 810). The announcement was a stunning reversal for Majority Leader Frist, who just last week said that he did not support expanding federal financing “at this juncture.” With HR 810 still awaiting action in the Senate, the Majority Leader’s statement is seen as a huge boost to embryonic stem cell research supporters. However, President George W. Bush is maintaining his intention to veto HR 810 if it is approved by the Senate and reaches his desk.

“While human embryonic stem cell research is still at a very early stage, the limitations put in place in 2001 will, over time, slow our ability to bring potential new treatments for certain diseases,” Majority Leader Frist said Friday, July 29, on the Senate floor. “Therefore, I believe the president's policy should be modified.” Majority Leader Frist’s entire floor statement on embryonic stem cell research is available online.

HR 810 would expand the current federal policy on embryonic stem cell research by allowing federal funding on stem cell lines derived after August 9, 2001. HR 810 also establishes strict ethical guidelines for this field of research by requiring that federal funds not be used to derive stem cells or destroy embryos. The House of Representatives approved HR 810 by a 238 to 194 vote on May 25.

ASH has endorsed HR 810 and has been working with the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR) to gain Senate support. To join ASH’s advocacy efforts, please visit our grassroots advocacy campaign in support of HR 810.

Senate Vote Likely in September

Although Majority Leader Frist’s support for expanding embryonic stem cells gives hope to the research advocacy community, his Senate floor remarks identified “significant shortcomings” with HR 810 that “merit a thoughtful and thorough rewrite of the bill.” He mentioned three points about the legislation: (1) it lacks a strong ethical and scientific oversight mechanism; (2) it doesn’t prohibit financial or other incentives between scientists and fertility clinics; (3) it doesn’t specify whether the patients or clinic staff or anyone else has the final say about whether an embryo will be implanted or will be discarded. It is unclear if the current version of HR 810 will move forward for a vote when the Senate returns from its August recess, or if a modified version that addresses Senator Frist’s three shortcomings will be necessary.

In addition, the structure of the stem cell debate on the Senate floor is still uncertain. Opponents of embryonic stem cell research were planning to introduce seven alternative stem cell bills to try and complicate the debate over approving HR 810. As of last week, there were the following measures involving stem cell research being developed in the Senate: unite the cord blood and bone marrow networks; move the embryonic stem cell derivation cut-off date from August 9, 2001, to 2005; increase research into unproven methods of extracting stem cells without destroying human embryos; anti-nuclear transfer legislation; and, an anti-chimera bill.

The Senate parliamentary rules allow for all of these bills to be brought up during the debate on HR 810. First and foremost, the Society would like to see the Senate approve HR 810, although there are several other stem cell related-bills that the Society supports. Majority Leader Frist’s support of HR 810 should help ensure that support for expanding federal funding of embryonic stem cell research will not be obstructed by these other bills during Senate debate.

Help ASH—Send an Email to your Senators Today!

Please help ASH capitalize on Majority Leader Frist’s support of HR 810 by contacting your Senators and urging their support of the bill. With Senators back in their home states for August recess, it is the perfect opportunity to educate them about the potential benefits of embryonic stem cells and how President Bush’s policy restricts further investigation. With several stem cell bills potentially under consideration in the Senate, our message is very simple—pass HR 810 with no amendments and with no other measures that restrict scientific research. Please visit the ASH Advocacy Center for information about how you can get involved.

If you have questions, or need more information, please contact ASH Government Affairs Manager Jeff Coughlin at (202) 776-0544.