WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Aiming to circumvent President Bush’s limits on the use of stem cells from human embryos, members of Congress on Wednesday introduced bills to allow federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.
Supporters from both major parties joined the coordinated introduction in the House of Representatives and Senate, saying they have given up on persuading Bush to change his policy.
“If the federal government doesn’t act, we’re going to have a patchwork of state laws — and that’s already happening,” said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat helping to sponsor the bill.
“California, for instance, is launching a $3 billion initiative to fund cutting-edge stem cell research. In 2004, New Jersey created a $25 million embryonic stem cell research center,” Feinstein said.
Wisconsin, Connecticut and New York also have funding measures in the works.
