Legislation to Expand Stem Cell Research - Approved!!
This update from the JDRF - "Shortly after 3 pm yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3, legislation to expand embryonic stem cell research, by a vote of 353-174, with 8 Members not voting. This represents a pickup of 18 votes from the House vote last year to override the President’s veto of H.R. 810 (legislation identical to H.R. 3). Thanks to all of the JDRF volunteers across the country who responded to our Action Alert and who contacted their Members of Congress and asked for a vote in support of the bill. All of your efforts are paying off, and we are clearly moving in the right direction by picking up votes from last year.
Click here to see how your Representative voted.
After a few hours of debate on the House floor, opponents of H.R. 3 attempted to amend the bill via a parliamentary procedure known as a “motion to recommit”; this motion would have prevented universities or research institutions that are conducting somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT, or therapeutic cloning) from receiving federal funds to conduct embryonic stem cell research. Fortunately, the motion failed by a vote of 189-238.
The Senate is expected to debate and vote on its companion bill, S. 5 in the next few weeks. We will be in contact with you soon regarding the Senate vote and instructions on how you can help reach the goal of a veto-proof margin of 67 votes."
For more on how to be involved in diabetes advocacy, visit our Advocacy page and make a difference.