Dan Coats: “let me make two points. One is that I don't need to be reminded by the Senator from California about the ravaging…”

“let me make two points. One is that I don't need to be reminded by the Senator from California about the ravaging effects of Parkinson's disease, having watched my grandfather suffer and die from Parkinson's, and having watched my father suffer and die from complications from Parkinson's. I am well aware of the debilitating nature of Parkinson's disease. I think many of us have had personal experiences with that. I have not mentioned that before. But I think the implication is that if one truly understood Parkinson's, you couldn't begin to support the Coats amendment. I think I truly understand Parkinson's and what it does and how it affects an individual, how it affects family and loved ones. There is the very real possibility that it is genetically induced and that I may go through the same experience. Second, let me just state for those who suggest that there is no hope for the millions of Parkinson's sufferers, there is great hope for the millions of Parkinson's sufferers. There is hope because, No. 1, fetal tissue research can continue if the Coats amendment is adopted. I do not deny research utilizing human fetal tissue through this amendment. I simply say that that fetal tissue cannot be obtained through induced abortions. It can be obtained through spontaneous abortions, miscarriages, or ectopic pregnancies.”