Watson Coleman: “What we agree on is we want to move science forward. We want to provide hope to those who are suffering from diseases…”

“What we agree on is we want to move science forward. We want to provide hope to those who are suffering from diseases and conditions with the possibility of stem cell research. The issue is a matter of Federal funding. What do we put Federal dollars into? Should there be any moral questions that are raised before we make that decision to put Federal dollars into something? That is a legitimate issue to discuss in the Senate. It is a reflection of the reality that in this country there is substantial disagreement about what is appropriate use of Federal dollars. This is not about shutting off research. It is not about stopping research. It is not about a lack of research going on. We still lead the world in embryonic stem cell research. With forty percent of all the publications that are offered in this country, 85 percent of the dollars from what we have provided, both embryonic and adult stem cell research, we are leading the world.”