Speaking on behalf of PAN was the Honorable Frank Carlucci, a member of PAN’s board of directors, “We join with the other advocacy groups here today in urging the Senate to pass H.R. 810, and to do so with a strong enough vote to discourage a veto,” Carlucci said. “Such a veto would be misguided and if sustained, would be a setback to our capabilities in the vital area of stem cell research.”

H.R. 810, which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives in May 2005, would expand current policy to allow for federal dollars to be used for stem cell research on donated embryos from fertility clinic patients. This legislation also specifies strict ethical guidelines. The stem cells may only be derived from In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)-created embryos. The couple must provide written consent and would not receive any compensation.

The current Administration policy states that federal funds may only be used for research on embryonic stem cell cultures created prior to August 9, 2001.

H.R. 810 will be considered as a “package” of stem cell research bills, including S. 2754, Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act and S. 3504, the Fetus Farming Prohibition Act of 2006. Under the agreement, amendments will not be permitted and each bill will have a separate vote.

The other two bills under consideration do not move the field forward. One prohibits practices in research which no scientist in this country is undertaking, and the other promotes research that is already allowed.

“Passage of H.R. 810 is the only bill in the package that offers promise to millions of Americans,” said Amy Comstock, CEO of the Parkinson’s Action Network. “I ask that each Senator vote for this crucial legislation and send a clear message to the White House that a veto is unacceptable.”

More than 120 million Americans suffer from chronic and life-threatening diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, ALS, osteoporosis and spinal cord injuries. Medical researchers have discovered that many diseases and injuries could potentially be treated or cured by new regenerative medicine therapies involving stem cells.

The legislation will be considered starting July 17, and come to the floor for a vote on July 18.

Founded in 1991, PAN is the unified education and advocacy voice of the Parkinson’s community—over one million Americans and their families. Through education and interaction with the Parkinson’s community, scientists, lawmakers, opinion leaders, and the public, PAN fights for a cure by increasing awareness about Parkinson’s disease and seeks increased federal support for Parkinson’s research. For more information on the Parkinson’s Action Network, please visit www.parkinsonsaction.org or call 1-800-850-4726.