April 10, 2007
Dear Senator:
The undersigned organizations dedicated to advocacy for people with cancer write to endorse S. 5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.
Research leaders agree that the stem cell lines that are eligible for federal funding under the Bush Administration policy are inadequate for research on cancer and other serious and life-threatening illnesses. In recent testimony before the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, National Institutes of Health Director Elias Zerhouni urged a change in policy to provide scientists access to more cell lines.
It is time to permit federal funding on stem cell lines that are derived from excess embryos according to ethical principles, including informed consent by donors. The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act establishes appropriate standards for the expansion of federal funding of stem cell research. As advocates for cancer survivors, we strongly urge you to support this legislation that will allow stem cell research to move forward.
Although other stem cell measures will be considered by the Senate when it debates the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, those measures do not address the pressing need for additional embryonic stem cell lines necessary to advance this research. The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act represents an important step toward wider federal support of embryonic stem cell research. We urge you to vote for this bill.
Sincerely,
Cancer Leadership Council
American
Society of Clinical Oncology
American Society for Therapeutic Radiology & Oncology
Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network
C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition
Cancer Care
Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation
The Children's Cause for Cancer Advocacy
Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups
International Myeloma Foundation
Lance Armstrong Foundation
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Lung Cancer Alliance
Lymphoma Research Foundation
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
National Prostate Cancer Coalition
North American Brain Tumor Coalition
Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
Sarcoma Foundation of America
Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network
The Wellness Community
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization