Stem-cell, other biotech bills face new rules in coming Senate votes

Published: 2005-07-15

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- As many as five bills related to stem cells and other biotechnology could come before the U.S. Senate by the end of July for an up-or-down vote requiring a 60-vote majority, Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., said in a July 14 teleconference with members of the Catholic press. Santorum, the Senate's third-ranking Republican as head of the Senate Republican Conference, said no amendments would be allowed to any of the legislation under terms of a procedural agreement being worked out with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn. Two of the bills passed the House of Representatives May 25. They are: Stem-Cell Research Enhancement Act, which would permit federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research using frozen embryos that would otherwise be discarded; the embryos could only be used with the parents' consent; and Stem-Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005, which would promote increased stem-cell research using umbilical cord blood. If those two bills are approved by the Senate and sent to the White House, President George W. Bush would veto the former and sign the latter, Santorum said.

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