Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act Of 2007

Floor Speech

STEM CELL RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2007 -- (Senate - April 10, 2007)

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Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, let me begin by expressing my heartfelt appreciation to the Senator from Georgia, Mr. Isakson, and the Senator from Minnesota, Mr. Coleman, for working diligently, creatively, and in a very determined way to try to solve a problem that has previously existed in this area that has made it difficult, if not impossible, for some of us to support the expansion of embryonic stem cell research because we were concerned that a very important moral line would be crossed.

I, for one, strongly support medical research, development, and innovation to combat disease and develop effective treatments to improve the quality of health for all Americans, and I am sure we all feel the same way. During the 109th Congress, I was proud to support legislation that promoted expansion of stem cell research without harming or destroying human embryos, and today I am proud to join Senators COLEMAN and ISAKSON in cosponsoring the HOPE Act, the Hope Offered Through Principled and Ethical Stem Cell Research bill.

This HOPE Act advances stem cell research, while respecting life and focusing on cures by allowing the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to establish guidelines for research on embryos that have died from natural causes. The bill directs HHS, Health and Human Services, to prioritize research likely to produce the greatest results in the near term, and authorizes Federal funding for research only if such lines have been derived in such a manner that it does not harm or kill a living human embryo. Finally, it directs the Institute of Medicine to conduct a study to delve further into the possibilities of amniotic and placental cell bank programs, areas which I understand from my reading have a lot of promise.

I am also encouraged by the scientific advances made in the roughly $3 billion of Federal money put into stem cell research since about 2001 that have created real advances in adult and cord blood stem cell research, and I strongly support efforts to build upon these promising therapies which are already being used in medical treatments for a variety of reasons. Current Federal stem cell policy funds research using established embryonic stem cell lines, thus taxpayers are not forced to support research that would require the use and destruction of human embryos at the earliest stage of development.

It is essential to note that there is no law that prohibits embryonic stem cell research in this country. I think, unfortunately, this has been misportrayed and misunderstood in many quarters. In fact, this administration is the first one to support federally funded embryonic stem cell research within parameters. But the issue before us is solely an issue of whether American taxpayers will be forced to fund research that many of them oppose on fundamental moral grounds. It creates a slippery slope when human life is sacrificed for medical experimentation.

The current Federal policy does not forbid others from conducting such research on lines other than those approved by the President, provided it is funded from sources other than the Federal taxpayer. There are States, I think notably California and others, that have voted to spend their own taxpayers' money for that purpose but not the Federal taxpayers' money.

Adult stem cells--and this is again one of those areas where, when you mix science and politics, I fear always the science suffers--and this is part of the good news of this research, this $3 billion invested in stem cell research since 2001--the good news is that adult stem cells are treating real patients who suffer from more than 70 different diseases and disorders right now.

I think many people would be surprised to learn that embryonic stem cells have had few modest successes in animal trials and so far have produced zero treatments for human beings. I think many people would be surprised because of the overhyped and oversold story about embryonic stem cell research. I think our job ought to be to try to come up with a reasoned piece of legislation based on the facts, not based on hype. I think that is what Senator Isakson and Senator Coleman have done.

All of us have deep sympathy for parents, for children, for families who continue to struggle with painful, serious diseases. I continue to study this issue with great care. I remember every year the parents of children who suffer juvenile diabetes coming to my office along with their children. It really tugs at your heartstrings to see these parents wanting their children to be cured from this terrible disease. We all hope and pray that someday they will be.

I have been encouraged by recent reports from America's scientific community which revealed that great potential exists for obtaining embryonic-like stem cells without creating and then harming human life. At the beginning of this month there were 1,373 publicly available clinical trials related to adult stem cells--1,373 publicly available clinical trials related to adult stem cells--including 671 that are currently recruiting patients.

In my State of Texas, for example, 93 adult stem cell clinical trials are currently being conducted on everything from brain injuries to different forms of cancer to heart disease.

I am proud to say that medical research in my State has been at the forefront of the adult stem cell research field. For example, the Texas Heart Institute reported evidence of the effectiveness of treating congestive heart disease with the patient's own stem cells. Heart disease, as we all know, is the No. 1 killer in the United States. Yet the researchers at the Texas Heart Institute are finding that adult stem cells injected directly into the heart are not only improving blood flow and blood vessel formation, but they are even growing new heart tissue.

Another clinical trial in Texas, started this last year at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and Memorial Hermann Children's Hospital, is among the first to apply adult stem cells to treat traumatic brain injury. The researchers in this trial are using children's own bone marrow stem cells to treat brain trauma. This is an especially important area to see adult stem cell research branching out into because of the devastating effect that brain injuries have had on survivors' lives.

These trials and others like them are bringing us new treatments all the time for real patients right now. I will continue to support the expansion of research that may lead to the improved treatment of disease without compelling taxpayers to fund destruction of human embryos, a procedure that many find morally objectionable.

Let me say in conclusion, again, how much I appreciate the creativity and determination of my two colleagues who have led the effort on this important legislation. I am proud to cosponsor it, proud to support it. I think generations yet unknown will continue to benefit from the kind of medical research that we will approve if we pass this bill and when it is signed by the President.

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