on the merit this legislation picks winners and losers in the research community by choosing which research methods would be funded it diverts research funds from very promising areas such as adult stem cells and cord blood despite the fact that its old stem cells have already been proven to work over and over but don't take my word for it james thompson the first scientist derived stem cells from a human embryo was quoted in the wall street journal science i am not entirely convinced that embryonic stem cells will in my lifetime and possibly anyone else's lifetime for that matter be quite be holding quite the promise that we have desperately hope that they will mr speaker this debate has been so politicized that the american public can no longer even hear above the political fray about the miraculous and leading edge technologies and therapies being derived today from a stoltz adult stem cells embryonic fluid and human  cords all without the moral and ethical controversies created by this bill treatments for injuries and chronic illnesses as diverse as spinal cord and heart tissue regeneration bone marrow and vision therapies and diabetes diabetic management are all emerging as we speak and this congress should not be in the business of politically allocating scarce resources away from these technologies and methods as researchers continue to perform scientific miracles such as creating embryonic like stem cells without using eggs or destroying embryos like the scientist whitehead institute for biomedical research in cambridge massachusetts have already accomplished in laboratory tests the point mr speaker is that the process provided for under this rule does not allow for debate on the central issue does a middle ground exist that can provide scientist with stem cells that they need to continue their cutting edge research while at the same time respecting the sanctity of life unfortunately once again the graveyard of good ideas in the house the democrat rules committee has provided proof provided this body with a rule that allows none of the debate instead members of this bodies or body are being asked to vote up or down on a very blunt measure that fails to recognize the vast complexity of this issue this is no way to run the people's house mr speaker and it is certainly no way to run the self proclaimed most open and ethical congress ethical congress in history i urge all of my colleagues to defeat this rule and the underlying legislation so that the house can have a real and meaningful debate on this issue and not allow something as important as the fate of stem cell research to be determined by bumper sticker politics this house does deserve better and the american people deserve better i reserve the balance of my time gentlewoman from support of this groundbreaking legislation the stem cell research and has been active two thousand and seven and i want to commend the bipartisan leadership of senator reid and senator harkin and senator orrin hatch for their hard work  crafting and passing this legislation and i want also want to thank the bipartisan leadership of congresswoman diana de gette and congressman mike castle for their tireless work on stem cell research funding mr speaker democrats have fought lawing and heard in the name of science and innovation here in the house of representatives on january eleventh of this year as part of the hundred hours legislation led by speaker pelosi we saw the unlock potential held in stem cell research we saw the potential to cure or the diseases that affect one hundred million americans debilitating diseases such as parkinson's diabetes alzheimer's lou gehrig's multiple sclerosis and cancer and i could go on and on and on and my district in massachusetts my constituents see the value of progress and want to invest in the life sciences as part of a life science initiative by the state a stem cell bank will be created at the university of massachusetts medical center in washington or it will be part of the largest repository of stem cell lines in the world mr speaker embryonic stem cell research has the support of over five hundred organizations including the american medical association a a r p the association of american medical colleges american diabetes association and paralyzed veterans of america and i could go on i believe we owe the american people the promise of science and medicine the legislation before us reflects the best science in the world the legislation before us holds out the hope for a better life for millions of people all throughout the world it is time that president bush stop being an obstructionist on this issue it is time for that he gets out of the way and listens to the will of the american people the gentleman from texas my colleagues missed missed the session says that this is about politics it is not about politics this has nothing to do with politics and it is sad that so many people who oppose this want to politicize this issue it isn't about politics it is about life and death it is about improving the quality of life through the best science that is available to us so it is time for this congress to at long last do the right thing we have debated this issue over and over and over and over and over it is time for this congress to do the right thing to listen to the will of the american people to listen member of the committee on rules mr dreier gentleman from california is recognized for such a time as you make it in my remarks a lot of pressure i'm proud to stand here is someone who is supportive of embryonic stem cell research i have voted in support of this research in the past and i plan to vote for it again today when this measure is brought up but i have to say that as i listen i'm a very good friend from massachusetts mr mcgovern speak on this issue and i will say again to him that as he knows i am a supporter of stem cell research and i will be voting in support of this bill i'm absolutely horrified with the remarks that were just made by my colleague from massachusetts why because just yesterday he stood here during the debate on the afghanistan freedom act rule and said that there were now enjoying a new day in the house of representatives and yet we today are considering this rule under a completely closed process shutting out shutting out all members democrats republicans alike who might want to have an opportunity to make some kind of amendment or modification to this process further mr mcgovern went on to talk about the fact that there is a very important institution in his congressional district that will be the beneficiary of the funding that is provided for this research and that gets right to the point that i believe is a very important one for us to make will we continue mr speaker to hear this argument that it's a new day in this congress i am very very troubled over a number of issues and over the fact that nothing nothing could be further from the case now we've heard both sides of the aisle talk about the need for earmark reform and that's the reason i just raised the issue of mr mcgovern's hospital to be a beneficiary of this bill i'm wondering whether or not that's an earmark that we're considering now mr speaker i'm very proud of the fact that one hundred ninth congress we passed a major earmark reform legislation it was earmark reform legislation that had enforceability and full accountability and we heard democrats say that they wanted to quote unquote improve on the earmark reform that we pro put into place in the hundred ninth congress now the real tragedy here mr speaker is the fact that we not only have seen no improvement on the issue of earmark reform but what has happened have seen a retro grade step taken on the issue of accountability and enforceability and let me explain that to my colleagues in the then proceed to say that mr sessions will be moving to defeat the previous question and if the house sees fit to defeat the previous question on this issue mr speaker what we will do is we will offer an amendment an amendment that will finally bring about the kind of and for civility that we passed in the hundred ninth congress but through sleight of hand by the house committee on rules has been denied every democrat and every republican in this institution and so let me make it very clear as we complete this debate and go into a vote on the previous question any member of this institution who votes in favor of the previous question to end debate will be in fact denying an opportunity for us to have accountability in for civility and transparency on this issue of earmark reform and what is it that we've seen reported to us on this earmark process that is going to be moving ahead  the days and weeks and months ahead we've already seen abuse in the defense intelligence i refuse me in the intelligence authorization bill that we had and i'm not going to give the details of that everyone knows we had a of a major clash that took place here between our colleague from michigan mr rogers in the gentleman from pennsylvania mr murtha we all know about that but what is on the horizon for us mr speaker what's on the horizon is the fact that the very distinguished gentleman from wisconsin the chairman of the committee on appropriations has already announced when it comes to the issue of earmarks we're not going to be doing it in the appropriations process how is it the earmarks are going to be able to get into bills they going to be airdropped into conference reports now it's very difficult to imagine a more or secretive process for earmarks than to have them air dropped into conference reports but now let's again look at what we did in one hundred ninth congress and what we're going to propose if mr sessions is successful at defeating the previous question what is going to happen mr speaker is we're simply going to say that there should be an opportunity for enforcement again we had that in forstmann provision in the remark reform that we passed in the hundred ninth congress but that has been completely denied mr speaker no democrat no republican can stand up and if a list is not provided to those earmarks raise a question about that if the chairman has simply said there are no earmarks there is no opportunity today under the action that has been taken by this democratic congress where they've said they're for earmark reform and accountability and transparency they in fact deny that and so all we're saying mr speaker is let's give democrats and republicans an equal opportunity to do what it is that the american people have said should be done we want to bring an end to wasteful spending and abuse of this so called earmarks process and so there's going to be an opportunity there's going to an opportunity in just a few minutes for every single member of this institution democrat and republican alike to decide whether or not we're going to build on the success that we had in one hundred ninth congress with accountability and for civility and transparency on earmark reform or will we in fact allow a secretive process which encourages abuse to proceed and i was i'm old enough mr speaker to have served here when ronald reagan was president i had states in his negotiations with the soviet union he used a russian expression no vi bold provia was the russian expression that he used and what of that translate to trust but verify and that's exactly what this debate comes down to mr speaker trust but verify because i hear democrats and republicans alike say that we need to have full accountability and we need to bring an end of abuse of the earmark process but we need to have a process of verification we need to have a process that will allow us to ferret out the kind of abuse that we've already seen in the hundred tenth congress to this earmark process and so mr speaker again i'm going to encourage a no vote on the previous question and mr sessions will be encouraging that at the end and  when because i'm an eternal optimist like ronald reagan to when we defeat the previous question all we'll be doing is saying that we should come back to the kind of accountability transparency and enforceability of the earmark reform to which everyone seems to be so strongly committed and that mr speaker i yield back the balance of my time that a woman from california thank you mr speaker i want to remind everybody today that we are talking about embryonic stem cell research very strong support of this rule and the underlying bill the stem cell research enhanced maneka i listen to stories from around my upstate new york district from families affected by life threatening in the bill of taittinger illnesses children with childhood diabetes men and women with spinal cord injuries lupus all shimmers and parkinson's every day these brave americans fight the with the hope that stem cell research will one day give them a new lease on life the st research unhandsome and will ensure that our nation's scientists are able to work towards making that hope a reality most importantly this bill creates an ethical framework stronger than the president's current policy which must be followed in conducting this lifesaving research the bill only authorizes the use of stem cell lines generated from embryos that would otherwise be discarded by fertility clinics and requires written informed consent from the donating woman my constituents support the south equally responsible lifesaving research and i stand with them today to give hope to millions of people around the country opponents say they believe life is sacred and i agree it is so let us leave no stone unturned to give as many people the opportunity the chance to live people with lupus with all shimmers with parkinson's with diabetes let us pass the stem cell bill mr speaker the message from the american people is clear it is time for this is ministration to do the right thing and si critically important law my colleague talks about bumper sticker policies and pandering to liberal blogs this is not about pandering to liberal blogs this is about listening to the american people it is time this administration listens to the american people and science a stem cell research bill thank you and i yield back the balance of my time gentleman from texas thank you mr speaker at this time i'd like to yield to the gentleman  gingrey for three minutes now live from georgia is recognized for three minutes mr speaker thank you and i thank my former colleague all on the rules committee mr sessions for yielding to me and i rise today in very strong opposition to the rule and the underlying legislation yes by the stem cell research enhanced once again the democratic majority the floor a close rule on a bill that members of this body would love to have the opportunity to make better through the amendment process this legislation has not been given a committee hearing or even vetted and i markup instead the democrats in the house have said that they know best period and the hundred tenth congress over forty five percent of the bills has come up under close rule and less than two percent have enjoyed what we call an open rule that allows for a full and honest debate whether it's debate from a democrat or republican now mr speaker this legislation was sent over to the other body in january where they changed it they amended it so while i don't understand why the house democrats insist on shutting their colleagues in that clear committees unanimously bills where both parties rush to the floor to applaud the final legislative product the democrats allow amendments on those levels law to be offered and debated but own issues where the american hold deeply differing views the democrats shut out ideas and debate once again debating this stem cell legislation under the same clothes rule the democratic leadership is saying to the american people the issue is the same today as it was in january as it was last summer and the hundred ninth congress as it was indeed back in august of two thousand and one however  reality is that this issue has fundamentally changed science is moving faster than bureaucracy and yes even faster than politics scientific by right through after scientific breakthrough shows that there are other ways to achieve the hope the hope of medical cures the new there appear to treatments without any collateral damage mandated by the legislation that we are debating today mr speaker science has indeed outrun politics and the american people they deserve a full and comprehensive debate on a marly contentious issue such as this and that's the reason that i offered an amendment my colleague referred to it earlier to the rules committee yesterday that would have replaced this ethically divison of legislation with a bill introduced by represents a roscoe bartlett the gentleman from maryland and myself we call it the alternative pluri potent stem cell therapy and hands in this amendment would authorize the use of federal funds to research alternative and ethical ways to extract embryonic like research alternative and yes ethical ways to extract extract these embryonic like we call them pluri potent stem cells and that's what we should be debating on the floor of this esteem body today legislation that sidesteps the ethical questions of embryonic stem cell research altogether we don't have to go down this road that totally divides us what some on the republican side some on the democratic side pro life pro choice if we can avoid that division mr speaker i think we ought to embrace the opportunity to do so and that's why reluctantly i have home and stand and oppose the rule of respect for my colleagues on the majority side of the rules committee that i that i work with for the last two years but i think it's wrong to close a rule or a question of this important so i do i ask my colleagues oppose the rule and oppose underlying legislation and that's exactly what we need to do because we can do this better and we don't have to the bad one and i thank you mr speaker to your b gentleman from california thank you mr speaker before i knew i just want to make a point that this stringent ethical guidelines for an expanded federal embryonic stem cell research program and it encourages new alternative sources of stem cell research like what made the news today and with that i'd like to yield three minutes to the gentleman from ohio a member the rules committee chair a woman from ohio is recognized for three minutes i thank the gentlewoman for her leadership on this role and on this very very important issue and for the time to speak i rise today mr speaker in favor of the role and in favor of at five the stem cell research enhanced meant to act as the elected representative of diverse constituencies we face many challenges challenges in this house we face challenges that affect the lives finances work and health of all americans and as we face these challenges we are called to do everything in our power to create solutions and find relief for the problems that plague our constituents we are called to fight we are called to work creatively we are called to open doors and explore new avenues we do everything in our power to relieve suffering and bring relief to create opportunity and to enhance flood today i rise in favor of continuing that mission to do everything that we possibly can to relieve the suffering of the people of ohio  district and districts across the united states during my campaign i had the good fortune to meet a business owner by the name of fred martin for the past thirty three years fred has lived with diabetes diabetes has no cure and despite diligent care a precise diet and insulin shots that he takes over and over throughout the day the best that fred can hope for is that his disease not get any worse he's worked meticulously over the past thirty three years to manage his disease so that he could be there for his children and attend to his business but he wonders how his life could be different  shots every day two before breakfast two before lunch two before dinner and one before bed he presses fingers to check his insulin levels eight to ten times every day he says that he's glad that he's still here he's grateful for all that science has done for him that is allowed him to be around to raise his children but he adds please don't stop now when discussing the potential that stem cells hold he says quote to deny our scientists the right to make the people in our society healthier and to help them lead better lives is really a crime i expected more of my government and quote if we do not change our policies soon we will continue to drive the cutting edge research research overseas just this week newspapers report that british scientists are embarking on research which could deliver the world's first on cell treatment for blindness the four million pounds that were donated to the project came from an anonymous american philanthropist this country cannot afford to be a hostile environment for scientific research and development today we have a chance to unlock worlds of potential our researchers will no longer have to fight one hand tied behind the beck i believe that we have a duty mr speaker to our constituents to do everything we can to make their lives better to relieve their suffering and to use our government and its resources and for his strong and clarion remarks on this rule i oppose this rule and and rise to oppose the underlying bill as well i must tell you this figure as i listen to the gentle lady from ohio bring her remarks to the floor i just want to say there they go again there they go again telling the american people that this is a debate between science and ideology when in fact destructive embryonic stem cell research despite my strong moral objections is completely legal in the united states of america the debate today is not about whether embryonic stem cell research research that destroys a human embryo for scientific research to take place this is just about who pays for it or i can understand why members of the majority want to focus on this false choice between science and ideology the language like america becoming a hostile environment for medical research me using me because destructive embryonic stem cell research and i say this with a heavy heart is legal in all fifty states in america it is it is simply that that liberals in this country  not sufficient are not content to simply have research that destroys human embryos for unproven science but they want me to pay for it and they want tens of millions of americans who like i do believe that life begins at conception to see their taxpayer dollars used to fund research that they find morally objectionable that's really the issue the debate is not about whether we should do embryonic stem cell research what that it that we were here on the floor actually debating along the fault lines of science and morality i'm ready for that debate forty eight years and nine months ago today i was an embryo i'm ready to have the debate about the sanctity and the value of human life but mr speight we're not having that debate today i mean america since roe versus wade has moved past the issue that was framed so eloquently by the late president ronald reagan he said we cannot diminish the value of one category of human life without diminishing the value of all human life but our supreme court made a decision decades ago that we we would put choice above life but i will stay in that moral debate but again it's not what we're about today and any one of my colleagues here on the floor and anyone listening and let's at least be honest about what we're talking about and that is this debate is not about whether we should do embryonic stem cell research in and  know we've heard from wonderful scientists on our side of the aisle who've reminded us inconvenient for the majority that one hundred percent of the scientific breakthroughs that have taken place in stem cell research have taken place in adult stem cell research has not been a single therapy developed from embryonic stem cell research and there are scientific reasons why we can expect that there never will be given the instability of nascent human life at that stage but i'm not an expert in that area i'm you know i'm a guy that i come from south the highway forty in indiana i keep things real simple this is just a debate about who pays for research that destroys human embryos and i simply want to say again this debate is not really about what an embryo is this debate is about who we are as a nation whether or not congress will as they did before same legislation to the president of the united states that will take the taxpayer dollars of millions of pro life americans and use it to fund research that they find morally objectionable but i can count mr speaker i expect this legislation will pass again but i think god we have a president in the white house who will i have every confidence veto this legislation just as he did before and that we have a tenacious pro life minority in this house that will defend the president's veto let me say again i believe that life begins at conception i believe it's morally wrong to create human life to destroy it for scientific research but that is not what this debate is about this debate is not about whether we should do embryonic stem cell research it's about who pays for it and liberals in this congress are not content simply to have embryonic stem cell research legal in all fifty states they want before you go to the next speaker let me just say that mrs reagan was in favor of stem cell research embryonic stem cell research and we know that president reagan had a very lady from california mr speaker i rise in strong support of the stem cell research and hansen act my own state pennsylvania is the forefront of science and medicine our hospitals medical schools biotechnology and pharmaceutical institutions are home to some of the best and brightest scientists who are working every day to provide new medicines and diagnostics these scientists need access to all the tools available to do their vitally important work the science is clear stem cell research offers hope for better treatments and possible cures for cancer parkinson's alzheimer's diabetes spinal cord injuries and so many other debilitating diseases and disorders that directly affect one hundred million americans and their families yet president bush continues to let politics not science not the health and well being of american families and not the will of the majority of americans dictate his decision making american families want cures not politics they want hope not lost opportunities that is why it is so important that we are again bringing this proposal to the floor of congress today with bipartisan support congress will again seek to offer hope to millions of americans battling disease and injury today congress will once again vote to maintain the united states stan as a world leader in medical research and scientific advancement and today we will stand up to the president and again choose to advance scientific discovery in an ethically and responsibly responsible manner i urge my colleagues to support ethical scientific research and to support hope we should vote yes on this rule we should vote yes on the stem cell research in the hansen act and i y gentleman from texas the speaker at this time i'd like to inquire on how much time is remaining on both sides place the gentleman from texas says three to half minutes the general woman from california is fourteen thank you mr speaker mr speaker at this time i'd like to inquire with the gentleman if she would be willing to provide a rundown of her time since i have three minutes left and she has fourteen and if the gentleman would entertain that request is speaker this is a very personal debate and it is a serious one but i would only ask my car colleagues on the other side of the aisle to entertain the thought that we are today addressing the lives of americans and we can't fool around with life and death issues that impact on the lives of americans millions of americans today collective number of one hundred ten million are dealing with the diseases of diabetes all time are somewhat spinal cord injuries and many others impacted by the inertia of this body and so let me applaud my colleague congressman digit because this legislation as my colleagues realize is imperative for it to move as s five the stem cell research and hansen act of two thousand and seven we know that if this bill does not pass it does not get to the presence there and lives of millions of americans will be impacted it is a simple bill it says that the stem cells were derived from human  donated from in virtual fertilization clinics for the purpose of fertility treatment and were in excess of the needs of individuals seeking such treatment the embryos would never be implanted in a woman and would otherwise be discarded such individuals donate the embryos with written informed consent and receive no financial aid or other inducements these embryos otherwise would be discarded what is out challenge in america to rise a higher angel this rule is constructed to save lives our friends will have the privilege of a motion to recommit but we have the responsibility of saving the lives of one hundred ten million americans children family members of your loved ones husbands and wives and others some are al soldiers on the front lines of iraq and afghanistan we can do no less today past eight x five vote for the not a woman from california great day not only in the united states congress but for the american people around the country many times we deal with issues that are  either sort of lower on the list of importance we name post offices we give certain honors to individuals that's all good but today we're dealing with an issue that affects hundreds over one hundred million americans really not a family that's not touched by disease diaby this as diana the gets daughter is unlike many mothers who come to the congress and ask us to address issues that have affected their their children diana de gette is in a position to actually make something happen and she and she has in the most educated illuminated a compassionate way to bring this legislation to the floor of the house of representatives today i also arise in the name of our beloved friend and part of our congressional family lane evans lane is one of the million americans who suffers from parkinson's disease who has had to cut his career short his leadership and dedication to making progress with stem cell research was inspiring he understood the hope that embryonic stem cell research holds for so many like him it's time that we passed this bill for people like lane evans a hero a marine someone who has fought all his life and now we need to fight for him i also rise in support of this bill for my friend bonnie wilson and her daughter jenna who is one of the seven million american children living with diabetes stem cell treatment may be your only hope it's time that we finally make progress put aside idiology and yes it is about it the algae versus science and pay attention to the science and i want to thank all the children and parents the children who have diabetes who have come to me year after year after year to my office told me about the shots that they take the parents waking up several times during the night to check the levels on their children worrying day and night that they're going to get that phone call that there's been some disaster it's for them that that we do this and so we're standing today on the brink of incredible scientific breakthroughs that are going to address the issues that plague all our families my family has been plagued by the early loss of my daughter in law fiona to cancer no one's alone in this that that we stand together to say today to say we believe in a cure we want to support a cure we merican people through our taxpayer dollars what could be a better expenditure of that should we throw away unused embryonic stem cells should we toss in the garbage literally the possibility of these cures i don't think so let's take that leap today so for our children and future medical journal science periodicals as well as the mainstream media announced a report on yet another promise that advance in adult stem cell research and clinical application unlike embryonic stem cell research research which has had a poor track record of adult stem cell therapies are not only the present they are the future as well cord blood stem cells for example are healing and mitigating a myriad of diseases today and promising research suggesting better therapies to come let me just say a word about embryo destroying stem cell research it has at least three strikes against it first it has incredible propensity to morph into tumors secondly if there are if they are ever successful and transplanted into human embryonic stem cells carry an enormous proclivity for rejection and surd embryonic stem cell research and potential treatment requires the killing of human embryos if it ever worked the limited supply of so called spare embryos that's a very offensive word let me just say those children who have been adopted from crowd genic tanks are a witness against this idea saying somehow there's a but just take that for what it was what it is if it ever worked there would be a near insatiable demand on that last point let me ask my colleagues to consider what dr robert lanza vice president of the research and scientific development at advanced cell technology said and he said creating that many lines talking about to me what would be the need would require millions of embryos from i v s clinics the march sixteenth two thousand and six edition of stem cells sivan and ralph calculated how many embryos would be needed for clinical applications and they said that embryonic stem cell lines could reach into the millions if the therapies lived up to their potential so this is a tip of the iceberg you're talking about spare embryos now but if it ever did work especially when we have an ethical alternative that does work but if it ever did work it would mean requiring the killing of millions of embryos and i don't think members ha members have looked forward to realize where this could take us that is a brave new world this is a tip of the iceberg today and hopefully we will not we will not go that way and that we will do ethical stem cell research and let me say one last thing california in his will is the gentlewoman from california recognized for two minutes thank you mr speaker and thank you to the gentlewoman on the rules committee for yielding to me i rise in support of this bill and in support of the promise that comes with funding embryonic cell research millions of americans suffer from diseases for which we might actually find a treatment millions more watch family and friends suffer while we deny a chance for a cure how can we tell a parent watching a child suffer from cancer that we aren't going to do every single thing possible to save that child how can we tell a child that we won't try to put a halt to the ra disease from which a father or mother is suffering how can we tell a teenager that there's a chance we could repair a damaged final core so that the teen can walk again but we aren't going to pursue it how can we tell someone with a family member with all the timers disease that we won't try every single thing possible to fight it in my own district the buck institute for on aging is doing great research into saving research with embryonic stem cells just recently they received a grant from the state of california to continue their great work private research facilities and states are on the forefront of research and the federal government must join them today we have an obligation we have an obligation to the people of this country to support research that could prevent suffering that could save countless real funding for research in stem cells vital is vital to making real progress as quickly as possible to find real cures i urge my colleagues join me in supporting the this bill that will certainly have long lasting effects in improving the health and the wellbeing of millions of americans and i too want to thank congresswoman diana de gette from colorado for being such a leader gentleman mr speaker the republican party this president is completely in favor of spending money and doing stem cell research we however are not in favor of putting an olive branch out that is unproven untested and up to today has produced no results from imbrie onix dam cell research the real problem with it is that it takes someone else's stem cells and puts them into someone else's body and there's a rejection right we know what works best is when a person when a researcher uses stem cells from a person's own body and puts them back into their own body this is called stem cell research for adults this is what will lead this country to where it needs to go we're simply saying rather than spending federal money on untested and then wise decision making processes that have not led forth to any research that is meaningful we should spend the money which will yield the best results mr speaker i ask unanimous consent to insert the text of the amendment and extraneous material immediately prior to the vote on the previous question i will be asking for a no vote on the previous question so that we can amend this rule and allow the house to consider a change to the rules of the house to restore accountability unfortunate remark rule i yield back the balance of my time mr speaker but not until i say thank you very much for your cautious and careful all rulings and a mr speaker ethical embryonic stem cell research is a reality that exists and it can help save lives the federal government has two options we can engage by participating in the research and influencing the ethical debate within the global community or we can ignore the issue and let others lead again this is not just my opinion the presidential he appointed director of the and i said earlier this year quote we cannot be second best in this area i think it is important for us not to fight with one hand tied behind our back here and quote i could not agree more america is a world leader in medical research and development we cannot see that grounds i am support of this bill from my young friend scott eleven years old who is dealing with diabetes every single day and for my good friend sibyl who has parkinson's disease and asked me all the time to support all stem cell research and for those with blood or bone marrow cancers or failures like my husband bob is too late for him but maybe not for others the bill made an order under today's represents a bipartisan consensus in america on how we combine hope the scientific consensus and our values into a policy right for our society i urge a yes vote on the previous question and on the rule i yield back the balance of my time and i move the previous question on the resolution the question is loaded on the previous question on the resolution those in favor will say those opposed to say no members will record their votes by electronic vote pursuant to clause nine of rule twenty and you're reduced to five minutes the minimum time for electronic voting in florida on the question of adoption of the resolution the house right now voting on this bill dealing with federal funding for stem cell research lifting restrictions research restrictions that were imposed by president bush back in two thousand and one this bill would authorize funding for research only on stem cells that were thrown out by fertility clinics that was passed by the senate back in april president bush is opposed to the bill he says he will veto it as the vote on the previous question is the last chance to change the bill on the floor of the house band possible  final passage to follow voting on the house floor right now members voting on the previous question as they continue working on federal funding for stem cell research and this is the last opportunity to change the bill on the floor of the house will be followed by a vote on the role for general debate and then general debate is expected to follow that it should be about an hour on general debate some of the details of this bill that would allow additional stem cell lines and imposes ethical guidelines that authorizes federal funding only for stem cells from embryos that fertility clinics would discard the associated press has written a story about this that is headlined democrats push veto fight on themselves congressional democrats spoiling for their second veto fight of the spring with president bush this one centered on embryonic stem cell research and as does the fighting potential how supporters of legislation to loosen restrictions on the use of federal funds for the high tech research claim more than enough votes to send the measure to the white house on thursday and the president which is about to veto floating on a bill dealing with federal funding for stem cell research right now a vote on the previous question is on the floor right now that'll be followed on what in the role for general debate and then general debate is expected  vote to limit debate on the immigration measure itself and a little bit later a second cloture vote is expected c span three a little bit earlier was carrying the senate armed services committee hearing on the nomination of a war czar lieutenant general douglas lute would be an assistant to the president and deputy national security advisor for iraq and afghanistan they are in a break right now because the senate expected to vote you can see that hearing when it resumes over on c span three headline democrats hunt for votes on stem cell bill plan to force another bush veto mouth expect to clear a bill today that would expand federal funding of embryonic stem cell research the latest attempts challenge white house resistance president bush in the struggling in europe this week  veto the measure just as they did a similar legislation last summer and administration spokesman said on june fifth that president bush will likely wait to issue his veto until after he returns on june eleventh bill supporters say they will push the issue until they can  procedural motion on the floor of the house as members continue voting on funding for stem cell research president bush continuous his european trip he and russian president vladimir putin are meeting at the g eight summit in germany amid heightened tensions as moscow to plans for a u s anti missile defense system in europe and a capital new thought org our poll of the day asked that the u s should continue with those plans you can log on to cast your vote and see real time results of capital minutes dot org connecting you to the latest political news electronic device this is a five minute  so the house is moved on to voting on the role for debating the embryonic stem cell research funding bill this this sets the guidelines for debating the overall bill one hour of debate is expected to follow with final vote expected to follow after that members will then move on to consideration of h r sixty five which will allow the lumbee tribe in north carolina to receive bureau of indian affairs assistance for social programs live coverage of that debate coming up here on another procedural vote on the house floor deciding the rule for debating the stem cell research bill an hour of general debate is expected that will be followed by final passage the senate right now boating on a motion to limit debate on immigration reform after a late night in senate last night it's an a p story that ran short time ago immigration bill in doubt after a vote a fragile compromise that would legalize millions of all lawful immigrants risk coming unraveled after the fennec voted early on thursday to place a five immigrants take many jobs americans could fill you can see coverage of that vote right now on c span to four i call up the bill yes fine report the title of the bill bennett by enacting the men the public health service act provides for human embryonic stem cell research sed by the senate i'm pleased to report that both both houses of congress have again found common ground on stem cell research policy this is a matter of utmost importance we have sent this legislation or similar legislation on stem cell research to the president twice the legislation has been vetoed this is a bike by cameral bill and our actions are clear we the american people will not be deterred from an acting potentially life saving legislation of the sky for those suffering from diseases such as alzheimer's autism cancer cystic fibrosis heart disease diabetes parkinson's or spinal cord injury stem cell research offers both promise and hope and that is why we must continue this fight and continue this research the legislation lifts the arbitrary restriction and expands the number of cells so line eligible for federally funded research it contains strong ethics provisions passed in h r three ensuring the new stem cell lines are only derived from use embryos created for human fertility funding for creation or destruction of embryos this is a critical point if not you should research these stem cells will be discarded as medical right finally i know that this five  a text of hope offered through principle principled and ethical stem cell research or the whole pack which is senate language at this time i wish to yield now and i ask