Washington D.C., Sep 4, 2010 / 05:50 am
Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) claims to have wide support for proposed legislation to permit government funding for embryo-killing research and expects to pass it this month. Pro-life advocates, the U.S. Catholic bishops and a majority of likely voters have opposed such funding.
An Aug. 23 decision held that federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) violated the 1996 Dickey-Wicker Amendment, which bars the funding of research which destroys or discards human embryos. While some have depicted the ruling as a ban on the research, the decision only restricts federal funding.
DeGette’s bill is now “on the table” for quick action, a House Democratic leadership aide told Politico. DeGette has worked with Democratic leaders who want to ensure her bill does not raise objections from pro-life Democrats.
The bill’s 51 co-sponsors include two Republicans, Rep. Mike Castle of Delaware and Mark Kirk of Illinois. Both are running for the U.S. Senate.