Lois Capps: “as my colleague from Massachusetts eloquently stated a minute ago, today this House has a historic opportunity to vote…”

“as my colleague from Massachusetts eloquently stated a minute ago, today this House has a historic opportunity to vote for hope, hope for millions of Americans suffering with devastating diseases. These patients, their doctors and scientists, have reason to hope, the potential that embryonic stem cell research has for developing new treatments for these devastating diseases. One of my dearest friends recently died of ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, which causes fatal destruction of nerve cells. The slow death sentence that ALS gives its victims is brutal. The disease took away my young friend Tom's ability to control his own muscles, paralyzing them and ultimately making it impossible for him to breathe. Stem cell research provides hope, not for Tom but for future ALS victims. Scientists believe they can use stem cell research to replace the devastated nerve cells that ALS leaves behind. With heart disease affecting so many of us in this Nation, the promise of embryonic stem cell research has advancements for the human heart which are incredible to think of. Instead of patients suffering because their heart cells are failing and no longer able to pump blood, new ways could be discovered to replace those cells. And with regard to cancer, stem cell research has enormous potential. For example, it could facilitate the testing of new medications and treatments, not in time for my daughter's life, but for her young children's generation. We cannot afford to wait.…”