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May 20,
2005
Action Alert: Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 (H.R.
810)
The U.S. House of Representatives is to debate and vote upon HR810
– a measure to expand public funding for stem cell research – on
Tuesday, May 24, 2005.
In early 2001, a special
task force of the Orthodox Union and Rabbinical Council of America
– comprised of leading rabbis, scientists and community leaders –
spent many months studying the halakhic and hashkafic issues
associated with stem cell research. This task force’s efforts,
resulted in a joint policy statement by the OU and RCA supporting
this research and government funding where appropriate safeguards
for ethical oversight are put in place.
The principle rationale for this position was the task force’s
recognition that:
“Our Torah tradition places great value upon human life; we are
taught in the opening chapters of Genesis that each human was
created in G-d’s very image. The potential to save and heal human
lives is an integral part of valuing human life from the
traditional Jewish perspective. Moreover, our rabbinic authorities
inform us that an isolated fertilized egg does not enjoy the full
status of person-hood and its attendant protections. Thus, if
embryonic stem cell research can help us preserve and heal humans
with greater success, and does not require or encourage the
destruction of life in the process, it ought to be pursued.”
In August, 2001, President Bush issued a policy directive allowing
limited federal funding for this cutting edge research – allowing
funding for stem cell lines pre-existing that date. Since then,
Congress has continued to debate this matter, with some seeking to
outlaw all stem cell research and others seeking to expand the
ambit of federally funded research. Earlier this year, bipartisan
members of the Senate and House introduced legislation to allow
federal funding for stem cell research which draws cells from
embryos housed in IVF clinics which will not be used for IVF
purposes, but otherwise destroyed, and with the consent of the
donors. The leaders of this effort in the U.S. House are
Representatives Castle (R-Del) and DeGette (D-Col). The House bill
is sponsored by nearly 200 members.
We urge you to encourage House Members to support this careful and
ethically sensitive approach to stem cell research.
Please call or email your House contacts and express support for
H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005.
Further information on this
issue can be accessed at
http://www.ou.org/public/Publib/cloning.htm
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