Gingrey Joins President Bush at White House for Veto of Destructive Stem Cell Legislation
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Gingrey Joins President Bush at White House for Veto of Destructive Stem Cell Legislation
U.S. Congressman Phil Gingrey (R-GA), an OB-GYN physician, today joined President Bush at the White House for his veto of legislation that would use taxpayer dollars to fund embryonic stem cell research that destroys human embryos, killing innocent life.
"Let me be clear," said Gingrey. "The President did not limit embryonic stem cell research today. It's legal, and it's happening across the nation. What the President said is that Congress shouldn't fund destructive research with taxpayer dollars, especially when promising alternatives exist."
"Our scientific and medical communities know we don't have to sacrifice life for science," Gingrey continued. "While the House continues passing destructive embryonic research bills, scientists are delivering the most promising breakthroughs with ethical, alternative stem cells sources. I've met patients who used adult stem cells to recover from devastating illnesses. Just last month, scientists announced they can reprogram adult body cells to act like embryonic cells. We now know we can reap the benefits of stem cells without the collateral damage to human life."
Gingrey also thanked President Bush for signing an executive order to strengthen pluripotent stem cell research, an ethical alternative to embryonic research that does not harm human life. Pluripotent stem cells and embryonic stem cells share two critical traits: (1) the flexibility for conversion into any tissue type, and (2) a long lifespan. It is these qualities - not the origin of the cells - that hold promise for medical research. Gingrey has introduced H.R. 322 in the House, legislation to fund ethical research on the derivation and production of pluripotent stem cells.
"The techniques funded in my bill can deliver medical miracles while upholding the miracle of life," said Gingrey. "I appreciate President Bush cutting through the tremendous misinformation surrounding stem cell research, and supporting ethical alternatives that are producing results today. The power of stem cell research is the power to save human life; we shouldn't be destroying life in the process."
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