Issue Position: Stem Cell Research

Issue Position

Issue Position: Stem Cell Research

Congressman Kennedy was outraged by President Bush's veto of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. As the first and only veto of his administration, President Bush has shattered the hopes and dreams of millions of Americans and their families who are affected by medical conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and paralysis. Unfortunately, this action was just one of many attacks on medical research by the Republican Party. For the first time in over 30 years, President Bush and the Republicans in Congress are trying to push through a budget that cuts funding to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Congressman Kennedy continues to speak out against these cuts, and will work to restore them before the final NIH budget is passed by the Congress.

Congressman Kennedy, who is an original cosponsor of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, believes that the federal government must play a role in supporting safe and responsible embryonic stem cell research. There is not one family in America who has not been touched by illness. We owe it to not only the individuals whose lives could be saved by this research, but to their families to change the current federal policy. The majority of Americans have spoken out in support of this life-saving research, and its time to put responsible science at the forefront of this debate. This fight is far from over, and Congressman Kennedy will continue to be a leader on this issue until the federal policy on embryonic stem cell research supports the will of the people over the political interests of the President.

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