UPDATED: Stem Cell Update

July 19, 2006

A number of sources are reporting that the Senate has passed the bill that would expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research 63-37.

From a press briefing by White House spokesman Tony Snow:

There is an enormous amount of progress being made in adult stem cells. I’ll give you a personal example. My hair is darker than it was a year ago. After I had chemo my hair fell out and it grew back — you know why? Adult stem cells. No lie. I was told by the guy who runs the operation at Georgetown. The fact is they’re studying to try to figure out how it is that adult stem cells, blood cord and other cells are capable of helping and healing. The President is not opposed to stem cell research, he’s all for it. But there is one kind of research, and that is that which involves the destruction of human life, that he does not think is appropriate for the federal government to finance. He’s been absolutely clear about it; there is no shading in it. Congress has passed a bill that does that and he feels honor-bound to veto it.

And yes, the other two bills also passed. Again, Tony Snow: “You guys — everybody seems to think that there’s one bill. There are three bills that are going to be considered, and two of them await a presidential signature.”

UPDATE: In the Senate it was 100 to 0 on fetus farming (House: 425-0), 100 to 0 on alternatives (House has not voted on this one yet).