Virginia Pro-Life Advocates Target Bill to Stop Embryonic Stem Cell Research Funds

Bioethics   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jan 28, 2009   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Virginia Pro-Life Advocates Target Bill to Stop Embryonic Stem Cell Research Funds

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 28
, 2009

Richmond, VA (LifeNews.com) — A pro-life group in Virginia is working to stop a bill in the state legislature from spending taxpayer funds to promote embryonic stem cell research. That’s the science that involves the destruction of days-old unborn children and the Family Foundation doesn’t want public funds used for it.

In 2004 the General Assembly created the Biotechnology Commercialization Loan Fund with the pro-life caveat that none of the money could be loaned for the controversial science.

Then, in 2005, the legislature created the Joint Commission Stem Cell Research study to examine the use of adult stem cell research and the implications of not relying on embryonic stem cells.

Also that year, the Christopher Reeve Stem Cell Research Fund was authorized and pro-life advocates were able to get an amendment approved in the legislation disapproving embryonic stem cell research funding.

Now, Sen. Mark Herring, a Democrat, has sponsored Senate Bill 1338, which is on the floor of the Senate awaiting a vote.

Victoria Cobb, president of the Family Foundation, tells LifeNews.com that an amendment will be offered to remove the potential for funding embryonic stem cell research.

She is urging pro-life advocates to contact their state Senators to support that amendment.

"Please contact your Senator and ask him/her to support the amended language to protect life. Remind them that this is consistent with every other stem cell fund created by the General Assembly," she said.

Cobb said there is no reason for the legislature to fund embryonic stem cell research because it has never helped patients.

"Human embryonic stem cell research has been a total failure while adult stem cells are already contributing dozens of treatments in the medical community," she told LifeNews.com.

"Why some continue to insist on sending taxpayer money to failed research instead of investing in actual cures is difficult to comprehend, but unfortunately, the issue of embryonic stem cell research is less about science and more about politics," she explained.

ACTION: Please use the link below to contact your state Senator and urge him to support the amendment to ban funding for stem cell research being offered to SB 1338 on the floor of the Senate. Click the link below to log in and send your message:
https://www.votervoice.net/link/target/vaff28177802.aspx

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