ASRM Washington Wire

Stem Cell Politics as Hot as the Washington Weather

On July 19, President George W. Bush issued the first veto of his administration. He vetoed HR 810 which would have overturned his restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Bush was forced into the action when the Senate passed the bill with a strong bi-partisan majority 63-37. Bush’s veto followed Senate passage of the bill by less than 24 hours.

ASRM joined with the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR) in working on passage of this legislation. ASRM President Joseph S. Sanfilippo, M.D., M.B.A., communicated ASRM’s support to the members of Senate, asked President Bush to sign it, and urged the House to override the veto. ASRM’s Scientific Director Andrew LaBarbera, Ph.D., H.C.L.D., and Ruth Farrell, M.D., a member of the ASRM Ethics Committee, were in town to help educate members of the Senate right up to the final moments of the vote. I had the honor of serving as host for a nationally televised press conference featuring members of the Senate and a group of patients.

Process Moves, Then Stalls
The fiscal year (FY) 2007 funding process has seen some movement, but also a freeze over the summer.

The House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its FY 2007 budget bill in June. The bill includes $28.258 billion for NIH, which is about $300,000 less than NIH received in FY 2006. The House leadership has stalled further action on this bill after a minimum wage increase was successfully attached to it. They are expected to return to it in the fall.
The Committee-approved bill directs the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) to “dedicate $69 million from within funds provided to continue the National Children’s Study, including funding all Vanguard Centers and any other activities that were planned for fiscal year 2007.” If additional funds are not provided to pay for this study, this directive (if included in the final bill) could be devastating to NICHD.
The Senate subcommittee also marked up its version of the bill. It increased funding for NIH by $200 million.

Return to Washington Wire Archive

By accessing and using the ASRM Web Site, you agree to be bound by
the ASRM Web Site Terms and Conditions of Use.

View the ASRM Non Discrimination Policy

Listed on Infertility Resources
Developed and hosted by Internet Health Resources