![](media/image1.jpeg){width="1.1006944444444444in" height="1.5in"}

The Honorable William H. Frist

Majority Leader

S-230 The Capitol

Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Melissa A. Hart

Member of Congress

1508 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

Fax: 202-226-2274

The Honorable Bill Owens

Governor

State of Colorado

136 State Capitol\
Denver, CO 80203-1792

Fax: 303-866-2003

Dear Majority Leader Frist:

As we look forward to the Republican Party\'s National Convention at the
end of August, I would like to congratulate you in your role as Chairman
of the 2004 Platform Committee. Our platform is absolutely critical to
defining our party, its principles and vision for the 21st century. That
is why, in my opinion, our platform must be comprehensive and inclusive
of all issues that are consistent with our party\'s philosophy.

As President of the Republican Main Street Partnership and a Delegate to
the Convention, one issue that I would like to bring to your attention
and urge you to address as you draft the 2004 Platform is support for
embryonic stem cell research. I share the belief of President Bush,
Members of Congress, Republicans, people of faith, Nobel Laureates and
renowned scientists that stem cell research holds promise for cures for
millions of Americans who suffer from some of our most debilitating
diseases.

Recognizing the potential of human embryonic stem cell research,
President Bush made a reasonable decision in 2001 to allow federal
funding for research on embryonic stem cell lines derived before August
9, 2001 and the National Institutes of Health is doing an excellent job
of providing grants and access to the federally approved lines.
Furthermore, I was pleased to learn from NIH Director Elias Zerhouni
that there have been no limits placed on funding the approved lines.

However, as you know, at the time of the decision it was expected that
78 lines would be available for research, but now due to a number of
reasons including duplication, failure to grow and lines being held in
foreign countries, the number of lines available is down to 21 and these
lines have concerns as well. Put simply, 21 lines are not enough to
adequately explore this research.

I, and many others in the Republican Party, believe an expansion of this
policy is consistent with Republican Party philosophy of compassion,
ingenuity, economic development and science. **Therefore, I would like
to suggest the following language to be included in the 2004 Republican
Platform**:

\"The Republican Party recognizes the enormous potential of adult and
embryonic stem cell research. The Party supports efforts to fulfill
President Bush\'s August 9, 2001 human embryonic stem cell policy by
expanding the number of stem cell lines available to researchers based
on the ethical guidelines established by the President and the National
Institutes of Health.\"

This language would be consistent with the discussions I\'ve had with
the White House, the National Institutes of Health, fellow pro-life
Republicans including Senators Orrin Hatch, Gordon Smith, Trent Lott and
Lamar Alexander and Representative Duke Cunningham, the patient advocacy
organizations and the scientific community. By focusing federal research
on stem cell lines that have been derived ethically, according the
following principles, we can show that stem cell research is in fact a
bipartisan issue:

-   Embryos were originally created for fertility treatment purposes and
    are in excess of clinical need;

-   The individuals seeking fertility treatments for whom the embryos
    were created have determined that the embryos will not be implanted
    in a woman and will be discarded;

-   The individuals for whom the embryos were created have provided
    written informed consent for embryo donation and have not received
    any financial or other inducements to make the donation.

As you know, embryonic stem cell research is supported by conservatives,
liberals and centrists of both parties. Some polls show upwards of 71
percent of the American public backing this research and most recently a
poll conducted by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal showed that of
those Americans considering themselves strong Bush voters, 58 percent
support embryonic stem cell research.

This is an issue that holds so much promise for diseases like juvenile
diabetes, Parkinson\'s Disease, cancer, spinal cord injury and many
more\-- and I realize at this point it is just that \-- promise and
hope. But I think this promise and hope must be explored and we should
not waste one more single day in doing so. By opening up the current
federal embryonic stem cell policy to enable researchers to study lines
that were developed with improved technology, are disease specific and
have genetic diversity, the Republican Party may very well lead the way
in saving lives.

Saving lives and improving the lives of those who suffer is an issue
that cuts through any partisan argument and any political posturing. It
is an issue that all Americans can support and one on which the United
States should lead. We cannot miss the opportunity to let the American
people know that our Party believes in hope for the future. We believe
in alleviating the pain of those who suffer. We are a compassionate
party that understands how to help people on a very personal level.
Embryonic stem cell research is the issue that can help spread that
message.

I urge you to include a compassionate approach to embryonic stem cell
research in the 2004 Republican Platform. Please do not hesitate to
contact me with any questions at 202-225-4165.

Sincerely,

Mike Castle

MEMBER OF CONGRESS