Harry Reid: “just a few days ago U.S. researchers at the National Institutes of Health announced they were able to help paralyzed…”

“just a few days ago U.S. researchers at the National Institutes of Health announced they were able to help paralyzed rats move again by using embryonic stem cells from mice. This study is evidence that these stem cells will likely treat and cure people with spinal cord injuries or nerve-destroying illnesses such as Lou Gehrig's disease, MS--multiple sclerosis--muscular dystrophy, and other things. On this breakthrough, Dr. Elias Zerhouni, Director of the National Institutes of Health, issued the follow statement: This work is a remarkable advance that will help us understand how stem cells might be used to treat injuries and disease and begin to fulfill their great promise. A successful demonstration of functional restoration is proof of the principle and an important step forward. We must remember, however, that we still have a great distance to go. The doctor is right. There is no question that much work remains to be done before science will know if they can apply his advances to human beings. We have, as the doctor said, a great distance to go, and if the Senate doesn't expand the President's stem cell research policy, it will only make this great distance even longer. Under the President's stem cell policy, Federal research funds can be used only on a small number of these stem cell lines that were created before August 9, 2001. This restriction excludes newer and more promising stem cell lines.…”