Political Quotes

“Today we made an important step forward for the hope of millions of patients and their families. Unfortunately, with this important step forward, there was also a small step backward. I had initially stated that I would vote in favor of S. 30, but after carefully reviewing the language, I decided to vote against it. I will ask to have printed in the Record a letter from the Joint Steering Committee on Public Policy that supports S. 5 and opposes S. 30. The Joint Committee is a group made up of the American Society for Cell Biology, the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the Genetics Society of America, Science Service, and the Society for Neuroscience. Many of us here believed that S. 30 was a harmless bill. After all, it is an initiative that would show we are supportive of all forms of embryonic stem cell research. And I believe that some still feel that way. But after hearing from a variety of research organizations and scientists, I have serious reservations. After carefully reviewing the legislation, it is now clear that S. 30 sends the wrong message to the scientific community.”