Text 1024, 117 rader
Skriven 2005-05-24 23:33:06 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (050524c) for Tue, 2005 May 24
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President Discusses Embryo Adoption and Ethical Stem Cell Research
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 24, 2005

President Discusses Embryo Adoption and Ethical Stem Cell Research
The East Room

President's Remarks
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2:07 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Please be seated. Good afternoon, and welcome
to the White House. I have just met with 21 remarkable families. Each of
them has answered the call to ensure that our society's most vulnerable
members are protected and defended at every stage of life.

The families here today have either adopted or given up for adoption frozen
embryos that remained after fertility treatments. Rather than discard these
embryos created during in vitro fertilization, or turn them over for
research that destroys them, these families have chosen a life-affirming
alternative. Twenty-one children here today found a chance for life with
loving parents. (Applause.)

I believe America must pursue the tremendous possibilities of science, and
I believe we can do so while still fostering and encouraging respect for
human life in all its stages. (Applause.) In the complex debate over
embryonic stem cell research, we must remember that real human lives are
involved --both the lives of those with diseases that might find cures from
this research, and the lives of the embryos that will be destroyed in the
process. The children here today are reminders that every human life is a
precious gift of matchless value. (Applause.)

I appreciate Mike Leavitt, Department of Health and Human Services, for
being here. He's the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human
Services. I picked a really good man to take on this assignment. He's doing
a fine job. (Applause.)

I want to thank the Executive Director of Nightlight Christian Adoptions,
Ron Stoddart, for joining us today. Welcome. (Applause.) I want to thank
Lori Maze, the Director of Snowflakes Frozen Embryo Adoption program.
Welcome, Lori. Thank you for coming. (Applause.) And thank you all for
being here.

The rapid advance of science presents us with the hope of eventual cures
for terrible diseases, and with profound moral and ethical dilemmas. The
decisions we make today will have far-reaching consequences. So we must
aggressively move forward with medical research, while also maintaining the
highest ethical standards.

Research on stem cells derived from human embryos may offer great promise,
but the way those cells are derived today destroys the embryo. I share the
hope of millions of Americans who desperately want to find treatments and
cures for terrible diseases such as juvenile diabetes and Parkinson's
disease. That is why my administration completing -- completed the doubling
of the NIH budget to $29 billion a year, to encourage research. I also made
available for the first time federal funds for embryonic stem cell research
in order to explore the potential of these cells.

But I also recognize the grave moral issues at stake. So, in August 2000
first -- 2001, I set forward a policy to advance stem cell research in a
responsible way by funding research on stem cell lines derived only from
embryos that had already been destroyed. This policy set a clear standard:
We should not use public money to support the further destruction of human
life. (Applause.)

Under this policy we have supported a great deal of ethical research. About
600 shipments of eligible stem cell lines are already being used by
researchers across the country, and over 3,000 more shipments are still
available. We've increased funding for all forms of stem cell research by
more than 80 percent since I took office. A tremendous amount of both
public and private research is underway in America on embryonic, as well as
adult stem cells, and stem cells from umbilical cord blood.

Today the House of Representatives is considering a bill that violates the
clear standard I set four years ago. This bill would take us across a
critical ethical line by creating new incentives for the ongoing
destruction of emerging human life. Crossing this line would be a great
mistake.

Even now researchers are exploring alternative sources of stem cells, such
as adult bone marrow and umbilical cord blood, as well as different ethical
ways of getting the same kind of cells now taken from embryos without
violating human life or dignity. With the right policies and the right
techniques, we can pursue scientific progress while still fulfilling our
moral duties.

I want to thank Nightlight Christian Adoptions for their good work.
Nightlight's embryo adoption program has now matched over 200 biological
parents with about 140 adoptive families, resulting in the birth of 81
children so far, with more on the way. (Applause.)

The children here today remind us that there is no such thing as a spare
embryo. Every embryo is unique and genetically complete, like every other
human being. And each of us started out our life this way. These lives are
not raw material to be exploited, but gifts. And I commend each of the
families here today for accepting the gift of these children and offering
them the gift of your love. (Applause.)

Thank you for coming today. By the way, we're having a little birthday
gathering just in a second for Tanner and Noelle. You all are invited to
partake in a little birthday cake. (Laughter.) In the meantime, may God
bless you and your families, and may God continue to bless our country.
Thank you. (Applause.)

END 2:15 P.M. EDT

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