Jim Ramstad: “critics of embryonic stem cell research maintain that it is wrong to promote science which destroys life in order to…”

“critics of embryonic stem cell research maintain that it is wrong to promote science which destroys life in order to save life. As the leading prolife legislator in Washington, Senator Orrin Hatch put it, since when does human life begin in a petri dish in a refrigerator? To reduce this issue to an abortion issue is a horrible injustice to 100 million Americans suffering the ravages of diabetes, spinal cord paralysis, heart disease, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, cancer, MS, Lou Gehrig's disease and other fatal and debilitating diseases. I met with researchers from four of the main stem cell institutes in America. As one prominent researcher told me, and I am quoting, ``The real irony of the President's policy is that at least 100,000 surplus frozen embryos could be used to produce stem cells for research to save lives. But instead, these surplus embryos are being thrown into the garbage and treated as medical waste, thrown into the garbage and treated as medical waste.'' {time} 1515 Only 22 of the 78 stem cell lines approved by the President remain today. As another leading researcher said, ``This limit on research has stunted progress on finding cures for a number of fatal and debilitating diseases.'' Mr. Speaker, it is too late for my beloved mother who was totally debilitated by Alzheimer's disease which killed her.…”