KING: EMBRYONIC STEM CELL
RESEARCH
PROVIDES FALSE HOPE FOR THE SICK
WASHINGTON -U.S.
Congressman Steve King (IA-05)
today urged his colleagues to
utilize new ethical research
options and not contribute
federal taxpayer dollars to
ethically controversial
embryonic stem cell research.
The U.S. House today voted to
allow taxpayer funds to support
research on human embryonic stem
cells. Embryonic stem cell
research requires the live human
embryo to be killed. Although
King opposed the bill, the bill
passed.
"Embryonic stem cell research
provides false hope to millions
of people that a cure for their
disease is right around the
corner, when in fact there are
currently zero successful
treatments in humans using this
type of research," said King.
"However, taxpayers will now be
forced to invest millions of
dollars into unproven, morally
controversial research, when
these funds could be instead
invested into non-controversial,
scientifically proven stem cell
research that is saving lives
already."
Today, patients are being
successfully treated with adult
stem cells for diseases like
severe heart disease, diabetes,
Parkinson's disease, wounds and
burns, multiple sclerosis and
spinal cord injuries, with a
total of 72 successful
treatments. Alternative sources
for obtaining pluripotent stem
cells include amniotic fluid,
umbilical cord blood, and adult
stem cells from bone marrow,
nasal mucus, dental pulp or fat.
