CINCINNATI – JUNE 26 – Yesterday, community leader, Cincinnati lawyer, and now Democratic Candidate for Congress, Steve Black sent a personal letter to Representative Jean Schmidt asking her to vote to override President Bush’s veto of the “Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.” He sent the request because Schmidt voted against initial passage of the bill in January and later against an amended Senate version in June.NOT
“Schmidt continues to misrepresent the people of Southern Ohio”, says a frustrated Black. Black believes Schmidt’s vote against final passage of the bill defies how the majority of Americans and families in Southern Ohio feel about advancing the possibilities of stem cell research.
The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act increases the number of embryonic stem cell lines available for federally funded research and provides hope for a cure for such debilitating illnesses as leukemia, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes. “This type of forward-looking research has the potential to discover medical advancements that could reduce or eliminate the pain and suffering of millions of loved ones”, declares Black.
The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act received bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. The House of Representatives first passed the bill in January and the Senate passed a modified version of the resolution in April. The amended bill was returned to the House of Representatives for reconsideration where Schmidt cast her second opposing vote to the legislation.
Black encouraged Schmidt to support the legislation and to overturn the Presidential veto because it provides critical ethical guidelines that direct scientific research, “guidelines that are missing from President Bush’s current policy,” states Black, “even conservative leaders such as Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) support the legislation because it is sensitive to the ethical issues involved.”
“Voting to override the Presidential veto the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act is the right thing to do for current and future generations of Americans and it’s high time that Jean Schmidt did the right thing,” says Black.
A life-long Southern Ohioan, Steve Black has dedicated much of his career to helping the Children’s Home of Cincinnati and other local non-profits. He is married to Susan Black, a social worker, and has three grown children.
GONNA
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...and it shouldn't either. Stem cell research ought to be funded privately, not by the government. It doesn't matter if the stem cells comes from embryos, adults or the deceased...this isn't something that government should be involved with...
Jean Schmidt has taken the correct moral and ethical position on this issue.
