Washington, DC, Jul 19, 2006 - U.S. Representative John Carter (TX-31) today strongly supported President Bush’s decision to veto H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, which would use Federal taxpayer dollars to support and encourage the destruction of human life for embryonic stem cell research. This law would provide Federal funding for the first time for a line of research that involves the intentional destruction of living human embryos for the derivation of their cells.

“I applaud the President for having the courage to stand up for human life and veto this piece of legislation. This bill crosses ethical boundaries, actually creating incentives to destroy human embryos. American taxpayer dollars should not be used for the destruction of human life,” Congressman Carter said. “This does not have to be an issue of scientific research or the protection of life. I am encouraged by the promising progress being made in alternative stem-cell research methods that do not require the destruction of human life, and I believe we should fund such efforts.”

Congressman Carter also supported S. 2754, the Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies EnhancementAct, which promotes research into methods of producing pluripotent or “embryonic-like” stem cells that are not derived from an embryo. This bill would provide for research in using alternative sources for pluripotent stem cells that do not harm or destroy an embryo. Although this bill was supported by a majority of House members, it did not receive the 2/3 vote needed for passage.