Washington, DC–Senate Democrats sent the following letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist,pushing him to show his commitment to the promise of embryonic stem cell research by helping to organize a Congressional override of President Bush’s likely veto of HR 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.With millions of Americans looking to the Congress for the hope of new treatments and cures for debilitating illnesses, Democrats believe the Republican Congress will be measured in actions, not words.
The text of the letter, signed by 41 Senate Democrats, is below.
July 18, 2006
The Honorable William Frist, M.D.
Majority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Dr. Frist:
Earlier today, the Senate approved the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (H.R. 810) – an important step toward enacting legislation that can bring hope to millions of Americans. As you know, this important legislation would end the restrictions that have kept stem cell research from fulfilling its potential to save lives and alleviate suffering.
We are pleased that you supported this important legislation and know that you recognize the enormous potential of this research for discovering new cures and therapies for diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injuries. However, we are deeply disappointed by the prospect that the President will veto this landmark legislation and ask that you urge the President to reconsider this position. If the President fails to do so, the only chance for overriding this veto rests with you and the Republican caucuses in the House and the Senate. Since the House will act first on any Presidential veto, we ask that you immediately meet with Speaker Hastert and key members of the House Republican caucus to impress upon them the importance of H.R. 810 and the need to secure the necessary votes from House Republican members to override that veto. At the same time, we hope that you will exercise your leadership to secure the necessary votes from Senate Republicans to override a veto should the Senate be given an opportunity to do so.
Millions of patients and their families across the nation cannot afford to wait any longer for the enactment of this urgently needed legislation. We are counting on your leadership to help ensure that this legislation becomes law so that we may finally clear the way for research that could lead to treatments and cures for so many debilitating disease and conditions.
Sincerely,
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid
Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin
Senator Charles Schumer
Senator Debbie Stabenow
Senator Tom Harkin
Senator Edward Kennedy
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Senator Daniel Akaka
Senator Max Baucus
Senator Evan Bayh
Senator Jeff Bingaman
Senator Barbara Boxer
Senator Maria Cantwell
Senator Thomas Carper
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
Senator Mark Dayton
Senator Christopher Dodd
Senator Byron Dorgan
Senator Russ Feingold
Senator Daniel Inouye
Senator Jim Jeffords
Senator Tim Johnson
Senator John Kerry
Senator Herb Kohl
Senator Mary Landrieu
Senator Frank Lautenberg
Senator Patrick Leahy
Senator Carl Levin
Senator Joe Lieberman
Senator Blanche Lincoln
Senator Bob Menendez
Senator Barbara Mikulski
Senator Pattie Murray
Senator Bill Nelson
Senator Barack Obama
Senator Mark Pryor
Senator Jack Reed
John D. Rockefeller
Senator Ken Salazar
Senator Paul Sarbanes
Senator Ron Wyden
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