Congress votes to expand stem cell research

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Democratic-led Congress defied President George W. Bush on Thursday and gave final approval to legislation to expand federally funded embryonic stem cell research.

But the 247-176 vote by the House of Representatives on the measure already passed by the Senate was short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a promised veto by Bush, who rejected a similar bill last year.

"If this bill were to become law, American taxpayers would for the first time in our history be compelled to support the deliberate destruction of human embryos," Bush said in a statement. "Crossing that line would be a grave mistake."

Thirty-seven of Bush's fellow Republicans joined 210 Democrats in voting for the bill, which backers say holds hope and potential cures for millions of people suffering from debilitating diseases, such cancer, Parkinson's and diabetes.

"The American people will have to make their voices known and heard by the president ... because overwhelmingly across the country the American people support this legislation," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, flanked by dozens of patients and their families at a Capitol Hill news conference afterward.

Shortly after Bush took office in 2001, he allowed federal funding on 78 stem cell lines then in existence. Most turned out to be of limited use to scientists, who have pressed Congress to expand federally funded research.

In an effort to ease concerns, the bill would permit scientists to only use embryos left over from fertility treatments that would otherwise be discarded. Donors would be required to provide written consent.

Democrats vowed to back expanded stem cell research in winning control of Congress last year. The emotion-packed matter seems certain to be an issue again in the November 2008 elections, which will see voters elect a new Congress and president.

Embryonic stem cells are the source of every cell, tissue and organ in the body. Scientists study them to understand the biology not only of disease, but of life itself, and want to use them to transform medicine and find cures.

Scientists reported on Wednesday that in tests with mice they had made progress on alternative ways to produce stem cells without destroying embryos -- a breakthrough, which if it works in humans, could ease ethical concerns.

But the scientists cautioned there was no guarantee of quick success with human cells, and urged passage of the bill.

Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, however, denounced the legislation as morally offensive.

"This is the tip of the iceberg today and hopefully we will not go that way and we will do ethical research," Smith said.

Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa, a chief sponsor, urged Bush to reconsider and sign the bill. "It is time to take the shackles off of our federal researchers," Harkin said.