TWICAPR20

Congress once again finds itself between a moral rock and a medical hard place as it struggles to meet the growing demand for increased stem cell research but continues to find ethical arguments from the President and some Republicans on the source of the cells.

Stem cells offer compelling potential for disease fighting research most believe, but others hold that some stem cells are early humans and to destroy them is to destroy a human life.

Bills of this nature were debated, voted on, passed and defeated last year. Last year the President signed HR 2520 that allows for the use of stem cells extracted from umbilical cord blood and vetoed HR 810 that would have allowed the use of embryonic stem cells.

This week the Senate passed S-5, identical to HR 3 passed in the House in January 2007, that would authorize the use of embryonic stem cells providing the embryo was not created for the purpose of harvesting the cells...for profit in particular.

S-5, HR 3 and HR 810 are essentially identical.

Under S-5 the cells may be embryonic cells but must come from excess human embryos donated from an in-vitro fertilization clinic. The cells must have been created for the purpose of fertility treatment. Once the mother is successfully fertilized the ‘extra’ cells can be donated for research. Prior to the consideration of donating the embryo it must be determined that the embryos would never be implanted in a woman and would otherwise be discarded." Individuals seeking fertility treatment must donate the embryos with written informed consent and without receiving any financial or other inducements to make the donation.

S-30 is the opposition bill that allows for the use of the embryonic cells only if the embryo is *dead and arrived at that state naturally. The bill limits researchers to using a small cache of existing embryonic stem cells and cells from amniotic fluids and the placenta.

(* 'Dead' is defined as "having naturally and irreversibly lost the capacity for integrated cellular division, growth, and differentiation that is characteristic of an organism".)

S 5 Full Report S 30 Full Report Current Law Passed last Year

Photo: Molly A Gilliam

CLOTURE TO BE INVOKED

INTELLIGENCE BILL

The Senate agreed vote to limit debate on the authorization bill for the 13 intelligence agencies of the US. Most elements of the bill are classified including the total spending. The bill requires, however, Inspector Generals to be installed and goes into great detail regarding the IG's responsibilities. Other oversight efforts in the bill provides for improved reporting to congressional committees and requires intelligence information requested by the committees be delivered within 15 days.

CIA and NSA agents are authorized to make some arrests without a warrant and FBI agents with particular foreign language skills would see a pay increase up to 5% of base salary.

(Full report here)

LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND DOCUMENT PRODUCTION AUTHORIZED FOR SEVERAL COURT CASES INVOLVING SENATE STAFF.

The Senate may authorize testimony and document production by Senate staff and may authorize legal representation for those staff members.

These are the bill authorizing legal action:

S Res 119; S Res 128;

S Res 129; S Res 140;