I thank you for your vote on 24 May 2005 in favour of HR 810, the Stem Cell
Research Enhancement Act.  As you know, after President Bush's veto this bill
has now been re-introduced in the current congress as HR 3.  I know that we can
count on your continued support for it.

As you know, HR 3 would moderately expand federal support for stem cell
research, and would allow researchers funded by the federal government to make
use of excess embryos donated at in-vitro fertilization clinics - embryos which
currently are discarded.  Human stem cells' ability to transform into any type
of cell in the body gives them great potential to treat many diseases -
especially neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinsonism, from which my
father suffers.  Unfortunately, the full potential of these cells has yet to be
understood, since only a small portion of the biomedical research community has
been able to participate in stem cell research.   Currently, research funded by
the federal government is restricted to those 22 stem cell lines in existence
prior to 9 August 2001.  Today, there exist over 100 stem cell lines worldwide,
each of which has a unique role to play in furthering scientific knowledge.
Such cells might significantly alleviate diseases of the brain, but we will
never know the full promise of such research unless it is able to move forward
unhindered.

Again, I thank you for your continued support for the Stem Cell Research
Enhancement Act.