On June 29, the U.S. Senate approved a unanimous consent agreement to consider three bills related to stem cell research:

• S. 3504 that would prohibit the solicitation or acceptance of tissue from human fetuses gestated for research purposes (Fetus Farming Prohibition Act)
• S. 2754 that would authorize federally funded research using pluripotent stem cells obtained without creating, harming, or destroying human embryos (Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act)
  
• H.R. 810, passed by the House last year, that would use federal funds to promote the destruction of human embryos for stem cell research (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act).

After debate, the bills will be voted on without amendments in the following order: S. 3504, S. 2754, H.R. 810. Each bill will require 60 votes to pass. The Senate will begin debate on these measures on Monday, July 17, and vote on Tuesday, July 18.

Please urge your two U.S. Senators to oppose H.R. 810. Destroying human embryos to obtain embryonic stem cells is immoral. In addition, embryonic stem cells have yet to benefit any human patient, but stem cells from adult tissues, umbilical cord blood, and other morally acceptable sources are already producing treatments for diseases. See: www.stemcellresearch.org. Also see: www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/bioethic/stemcell/index.htm. The White House has reaffirmed that President Bush will veto H.R. 810.

Please urge your two U.S. Senators to support S. 2754 and S. 3504. These two bills set ethical standards for stem cell research. S. 2754 funds efforts to derive and study cells which have the capabilities of embryonic stem cells but are not obtained from a human embryo, a policy that should be supported by defenders of human life as well as by those tempted to support stem cell research that destroys life. S. 3504 bans trafficking in human fetal tissue (including stem cells) obtained from human embryos or fetuses gestated for that purpose. Because researchers have already done such “fetus farming” experiments in animals, and some state laws could allow this grotesque practice in humans, a national policy against it should be set now.

ACTION: All pro-life constituents should contact their two U.S. Senators by U.S. Mail, FAX letter, e-mail, or phone. Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121, or call your Senators’ local offices. For access to your Senators’ full contact information, see: www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm. Also, at the bottom of the online version of this action alert you can directly send e-mail to you senator's office.

MESSAGE: "Please support research without harming human embryos. Please vote ‘no’ on H.R. 810 and vote ‘yes’ on S. 2754 and S. 3504."

WHEN: The Senate will begin debate on these measures on Monday, July 17, and vote on Tuesday, July 18. Please act today! Thanks.

updated 7/14/06