Yesterday, the Senate passed legislation expanding federal support for stem cell research. In an exclusive to Political Wire, Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) urges Republicans to fight President Bush's expected veto.
Yesterday, I proudly walked onto the Senate floor and cast my vote in favor of expanded stem cell research. My vote for H.R. 810 was a vote for discovery and technology, and for new knowledge and cures. It was a vote that, I believe, could potentially save millions of lives.
Rarely in Washington do we have a vote with such broad bipartisan support. Fortunately, most members of Congress recognize that this bill is more important than partisan politics. Almost every family has been or will be affected by disease in some way -- whether it is juvenile diabetes, Parkinson's, ALS, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis or, in my family's case, cancer.
I was so proud of my motherís efforts on behalf of people with cancer after she was diagnosed with the disease. I know she would have supported stem cell research. We all look to the day when we will have cures for diseases that shorten the lives of those close to us.
H.R. 810 is now headed for the Presidentís desk for his signature. He has signed 1,116 consecutive bills into law and never vetoed a single bill. But he says he will veto this one. I hope you will take the time to urge the president to sign this legislation. And I would ask the President to listen to the voice of the American people and the many members of Congress on both sides of the aisle who support this bill because of how much it could mean to the people we love.
America must stand at the forefront of technology and science -- we have the best and brightest doctors and scientists in the world, but they have been handcuffed by politics and, as a result, research has lagged behind that in Europe and Asia. Our research labs must be incubators of hope and promise for a better life. This bill is a crucial step in bringing this promise to those who need it most.
I applaud Majority Leader Frist for casting his vote for what he knows is right and just. I hope that he will now lead his fellow Republicans to urge the President to do what's best for America's families: sign this bill into law.
-- Guest contributor Evan Bayh is the former Governor and current U.S. Senator from Indiana, and is the Honorary Chairman of the All America PAC.
July 19, 2006
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