Washington, DC - Jewish Groups Urges the US Senate for Stem-Cell Bill Passage

Washington, DC - Jewish groups urged the U.S. Senate to pass legislation expanding embryonic stem-cell research.
The Orthodox Union wrote a letter calling on the Senate to approve legislation already passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that would expand federally funded research to include surplus stem cells donated to fertility clinics.

The group said they backed the legislation because it rejects the use of stem cells culled purely for research.
The Orthodox Union noted in its letter that "Judaism does not accord embryonic cells outside the womb the full status of humanhood and its attendant protections." President Bush has threatened to veto the bill.

U/D: 07/18/06 17:14
Senate votes 63-37 to loosen President Bush's ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, a move Bush has pledged to veto.

U/D: 07/19/06 14:21
President Bush has issued the first veto of his presidency, rejecting the bill to expand federal research on stem cells obtained from embryos.