Journal bmetzler's Journal: Bush on Stem Cell Research 15

There a lot of smearing going on from the liberals over President Bush's stem cell research policies. For those who don't know the facts, here's why I support President Bush on stem cell research.

1) Under President Bush, the amount FEDERAL spending for embryonic stem cell research has gone from just about $1m (in FY 1999) to just under $25m in FY 2003.

2) Until August 2001, Federal funding of EMBRYONIC stem cell research was not allowed at all.

3) In FY'03, the Administration provided $190.7m for human NON- embryonic stem cell research (cord blood, placenta and bone marrow).

4) The restrictions on funding for embryonic stem cell research are for FEDERAL funds only. A privately funded firm can use whatever lines they so choose or develope their own.

5) The NIH revised it's rules in such a way to allow privately funded research facilities that allow all kinds of embryonic stem cell research to still be able to receive NIH funding for seperate projects

6) Based on 2002 data, there are approximately 1000 scientists at 30 private firms that are currently working on stem cell research. Aggregate spending on this research was $208m. Geron Corporation alone reported that it has spent more than $70m on stem cell research by September 2003.

7) Harvard University raised private funds to create a stem cell institute and to make 17 new stem cell lines available to researchers.