CBAI-Legislation to Reverse Stem Cell Ban Vowed by U.S. Lawmaker
By Rob Waters
Jan. 26 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Representative Diana DeGette said she plans to re-introduce a bill overturning limits on federal funding for stem-cell research even if President Barack Obama lifts the ban by executive order.
Former President George W. Bush, citing ethical concerns, barred federal support for researchers studying embryonic stem cells created after August 2001. He twice vetoed legislation, co- written by DeGette and approved by Congress, overturning the ban.
As an Illinois senator, Obama voted in favor of DeGette’s bill. He said during the presidential campaign that he favored reversing Bush’s ban on federal money for stem cell research. In a telephone interview today, DeGette, a Colorado Democrat, said she hopes Obama will issue such an order in the next few weeks.
“I’m going to wait a reasonable amount of time,” DeGette said. “It would be great if the president reversed the order because it would send a real message of change. We’ll go the legislative route if needed and we clearly have the votes in both the House and the Senate.”
If Obama does lift the ban on stem-cell research, DeGette said she still wants to codify the action with legislation.
Obama in his first week as president has signed several executive orders overturning Bush policies, including lifting a ban on U.S. government funding for organizations that provide abortion counseling, closing the U.S. prison camp for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and barring the use of torture in intelligence gathering.
To contact the reporter on this story: Rob Waters in San Francisco at rwaters5@bloomberg.net.
Last Updated: January 26, 2009 19:48 EST
