Obama Lifts Restrictions on Funding Human Stem Cell Research

GWEN IFILL:

President Obama cleared the way today for new government spending on scientific research using embryonic stem cells. In doing so, he overturned an 8-year-old ban on government financing for the research first imposed by President Bush.

Betty Ann Bowser of our Health Unit has the lead story report. The unit is a partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

BETTY ANN BOWSER, NewsHour correspondent: President Obama signed his executive order before a packed East Room audience. The move potentially clears the way for scientists to apply for federal money to do research on any embryonic stem cell lines.

U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:

We will also vigorously support scientists who pursue this research.

And we will aim for America to lead the world in the discoveries it one day may yield.

Medical miracles do not happen simply by accident. They result from painstaking and costly research, from years of lonely trial and error, much of which never bears fruit, and from a government willing to support that work.

BETTY ANN BOWSER:

In August 2001, President George W. Bush allowed federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, but those funds were limited to just 21 stem cell lines that had already been developed.

FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH:

Embryonic stem cell research is at the leading edge of a series of moral hazards.

BETTY ANN BOWSER:

The key moral issue for President Bush in making that decision: Early-stage embryos that are only a few days old must be destroyed to derive new embryonic cell lines.

But scientists have argued that embryonic stem cells are especially versatile because they can morph into specialized cells that could generate new tissues to replace ill or damaged ones in the human body.

Today, Mr. Obama sided with those arguments, breaking with his predecessor's policy.

BARACK OBAMA:

In recent years, when it comes to stem cell research, rather than furthering discovery, our government has forced what I believe is a false choice between sound science and moral values. In this case, I believe the two are not inconsistent.

As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering. And many thoughtful and decent people are conflicted about or strongly oppose this research. And I understand their concerns, and I believe that we must respect their point of view.

But after much discussion, debate and reflection, the proper course has become clear. The majority of Americans — from across the political spectrum and from of all backgrounds and beliefs — have come to a consensus that we should pursue this research, that the potential it offers is great and, with proper guidelines and strict oversight, the perils can be avoided.

BETTY ANN BOWSER:

Conservative thinkers and scientists have argued that there's another way to avoid those perils: using federal dollars for research on adult stem cells. Since they are found in developed tissues like bone marrow, embryos do not have to be destroyed.

But the president said those alternatives should not limit federal research on embryonic cells.

BARACK OBAMA:

At this moment, the full promise of stem cell research remains unknown, and it should not be overstated. But scientists believe these tiny cells may have the potential to help us understand — and possibly cure — some of our most devastating diseases and conditions.