Supporters of embryonic stem cell research seek to keep bans out of House budget
April 17th, 2009
statesman.com
Supporters of embryonic stem cell research this morning called on the Texas House not to adopt budget language that would ban use of state money for the research. Such language is in the Senate version of the budget.
At a Capitol press conference, Emma Garrett, a volunteer with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, said she hopes embryonic stem cell research could help find a cure for diabetes. Her 2-year-old daughter, Sarah, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes before her first birthday.
“For me, it’s incredibly urgent that a cure for diabetes is found,” Garrett said.
State Reps. Ellen Cohen, D-Houston; Mark Homer, D-Paris; and Rick Hardcastle, R-Vernon, said that budget amendments aren’t the right place to make policy on stem cell research.
“There’s been no testimony, no input from institutions and no opportunity to hear from the public,” Cohen said.
The House is debating the budget today. For Hardcastle, who has multiple sclerosis, the fight to keep stem cell language out of the budget will be personal, he said.
“My goal today is to make sure that none of these harmful amendments get on,” he said.