Tuesday, July 18, 2006
NAF Communications Department
202-667-5881
press@prochoice.org
Urges President Bush to Support Potentially Life-Saving Medical Research
Washington, DC - In response to today's passage of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act with strong bipartisan support in the United States Senate, Vicki Saporta, President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation, released the following statement:
Today, Senators expressed their commitment to medical research and passed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act 63-37. This legislation would expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research and permit scientists to extract stem cells from embryos that were created for the purposes of fertility treatments, so long as they are in excess of a couple's need and donated with appropriate informed consent.
The National Abortion Federation (NAF) supports embryonic stem cell research, which has the potential to help find new treatments, or even cures, for those individuals suffering from degenerative diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Parkinsons, ALS, and Alzheimers. We applaud the Senate's passage of this bill. The House also passed this legislation with strong bipartisan support last year.
Unfortunately, President Bush has pledged to veto this critical legislation because he claims it conflicts with "the culture of life" his administration promotes. We urge President Bush to follow Congress's lead and sign this critical legislation into law, instead of continuing to play politics with people's lives and health.
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The National Abortion Federation (NAF) is the professional association of abortion providers in the United States and Canada. Our mission is to ensure safe, legal, and accessible abortion care to promote health and justice for women. Our members include health care professionals at clinics, doctors' offices, and hospitals, who together care for more than half the women in both countries who choose abortion each year. For more information, visit our website at www.prochoice.org
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