The Coalition for the Advancement issued the following statement in response to a position paper issued earlier today by the White House.
WHITE HOUSE RED HERRINGS DO NOT CHANGE THE FACTS IN STEM CELL DEBATE
Washington, D.C.; January 10, 2007 -- Please attribute the following
statement to Sean Tipton, president, Coalition for the Advancement of
Medical Research:
"In what can only be described as desperation measures, the White
House Domestic Policy Office's report on the latest in non-embryonic
stem cell research and recent reports that a White House Executive
Order is pending, make it obvious that this Administration is working
overtime to mislead the American public.
"With less than five percent of all federal funding for stem cell
research going to embryonic stem cell research, it should come as no
surprise that advances in adult stem cell science fill scientific
journals. It's exactly why we urge lawmakers to pass H.R. 3 and S. 5
to allow America's best scientists to fully explore all avenues of
research. Scientists, including those whose work the White House
touts, agree that embryonic research shows great promise for better
treatments and cures for the 100 million Americans suffering from
cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, spinal cord injuries, and
other debilitating diseases and disorders.
"Today's White House Domestic Policy Office report is a thinly veiled
attempt to derail legislation that has overwhelming bipartisan
support in the House and Senate, and among the American people.
Nearly three-quarters of Americans support embryonic stem cell
research, and the November elections were a clear sound-off from
voters that they are fed up with ideological-driven policy. It’s sad
that rather than seek the best scientific information, the White
House does not attempt to examine the latest in embryonic stem cell
science. It's time for federal policy to be based upon what the
facts ARE, not what the White House wishes they were.
"CAMR supports all forms research in regenerative medicine and
believes that federal policy should allow for funding and oversight
of embryonic stem cell research. We look forward to working with both
chambers of Congress in the next few weeks to effect change in the
federal policy in this arena."
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The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR) -- the
leading pro-cures coalition -- is comprised of nationally recognized
patient organizations, universities, scientific societies,
foundations, and individuals with life-threatening illnesses and
disorders, advocating for the advancement of breakthrough research
and technologies in regenerative medicine -- including stem cell
research and somatic cell nuclear transfer -- to cure disease and
alleviate suffering. For more information on CAMR, visit
www.camradvocacy.org.