In The Faith - A Chronicle of the Christian Faith

The House has voted to remove restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

The vote of 238-194 is not enough to overcome a promised presidential veto. It would be President George W. Bush’s first veto.

The bill would reverse the president’s 4-year-old ban on federal funding for new research on embryonic stem cells. That’s the controversial process that requires the destruction of an embryo.

Bush reiterated his opposition to the measure Tuesday. He warned it would cross “a critical ethical line” by creating new incentives for destroying emerging human life. He said he opposes “creating life just to destroy it.”

“We should not use public money to support the further destruction of human life,” Bush said.

During House debates Tuesday, Majority Leader Tom DeLay said expanding federal funding for embryonic stem cell research would result in “the dismemberment of living, distinct human beings for the purposes of medical experimentation.”

The House leadership instead threw its support behind a bill to increase stem cell research using umbilical cord blood.

Supporters of the bill argued the research could accelerate the cures for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and other degenerative brain and nerve diseases. New Hampshire Rep. Charlie Bass said it would be “unconscionable” not to allow “sound scientific research” to proceed.

Senate sponsors are urging Majority Leader Bill Frist to immediately bring the stem cell issue to the floor.

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Filed under: Ethics