Hoekstra Votes against Expanding Federally Funded Research on Embryonic Stem Cells

Hoekstra Votes against Expanding Federally Funded Research on Embryonic Stem Cells

U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, today voted against legislation that would expand federally funded research on embryonic stem cells.

"Human life at any stage of development should be valued and protected," Hoekstra said. "Science can be advanced without destroying living embryos capable of becoming healthy adult human beings."

Government-financed research is permitted only on embryonic stem cell lines developed before Aug. 9, 2001. The research requires the extraction of stem cells from days-old embryos, which are destroyed in the process.

More than 70 adult stem cell treatments, including umbilical cord blood stem cell research, have been found to successfully treat a wide range of diseases and injuries. Adult stem cells found in umbilical cord blood have already helped lead to new cures and treatments for dozens of diseases, including Leukemia and Sickle Cell Anemia.

Similarly, recent research has identified non-embryonic stem cells contained in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women that features many of the same therapeutic capabilities of embryonic stem cells.

"We should work on stem cell research on which there is so much agreement as opposed to the one area where it is so decisive," Hoekstra said. "We need to focus on exploring alternatives to the only method of stem cell research that requires the destruction of human life."

http://hoekstra.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=55344