A membrane electrode and frame assembly for a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack comprising: a catalyst coated membrane assembly comprising an anode catalyst layer, a cathode catalyst layer, and a solid polymer membrane electrolyte wherein the anode and cathode catalyst layers are bonded to opposite sides of the solid polymer membrane electrolyte; an anode gas diffusion layer adjacent to the anode catalyst layer of the catalyst coated membrane assembly ; a cathode gas diffusion layer adjacent to the cathode catalyst layer of the catalyst coated membrane assembly ; a frame ; and an adhesive layer ; wherein: the outer perimeter of the frame extends beyond the outer perimeters of the catalyst coated membrane assembly and the gas diffusion layers; the frame and the adhesive layer are located between the catalyst coated membrane assembly and one of the gas diffusion layers such that the adhesive layer is located adjacent to the catalyst coated membrane assembly and the frame is located adjacent to the one of the gas diffusion layers ; the outer perimeter of the other of the gas diffusion layers extends beyond the outer perimeter of the catalyst coated portion of the catalyst coated membrane assembly ; the inner perimeter of the adhesive layer extends beyond the inner perimeter of the frame ; the outer perimeter of the adhesive layer extends beyond the outer perimeter of the catalyst coated portion of the catalyst coated membrane assembly , wherein the adhesive layer bonds the one of the gas diffusion layers to the catalyst coated membrane assembly , bonds the catalyst coated portion of the catalyst coated membrane assembly to the frame , and the adhesive layer bonds an uncoated portion of the catalyst coated membrane assembly to the frame , wherein the other of the gas diffusion layers is bonded to the uncoated portion of the catalyst coated membrane assembly . a catalyst coated membrane assembly comprising an anode catalyst layer, a cathode catalyst layer, and a solid polymer membrane electrolyte wherein the anode and cathode catalyst layers are bonded to opposite sides of the solid polymer membrane electrolyte; an anode gas diffusion layer adjacent to the anode catalyst layer of the catalyst coated membrane assembly ; a cathode gas diffusion layer adjacent to the cathode catalyst layer of the catalyst coated membrane assembly ; a frame ; and an adhesive layer ; the outer perimeter of the frame extends beyond the outer perimeters of the catalyst coated membrane assembly and the gas diffusion layers; the frame and the adhesive layer are located between the catalyst coated membrane assembly and one of the gas diffusion layers such that the adhesive layer is located adjacent to the catalyst coated membrane assembly and the frame is located adjacent to the one of the gas diffusion layers ; the outer perimeter of the other of the gas diffusion layers extends beyond the outer perimeter of the catalyst coated portion of the catalyst coated membrane assembly ; the inner perimeter of the adhesive layer extends beyond the inner perimeter of the frame ; the outer perimeter of the adhesive layer extends beyond the outer perimeter of the catalyst coated portion of the catalyst coated membrane assembly , wherein the adhesive layer bonds the one of the gas diffusion layers to the catalyst coated membrane assembly , bonds the catalyst coated portion of the catalyst coated membrane assembly to the frame , and the adhesive layer bonds an uncoated portion of the catalyst coated membrane assembly to the frame , wherein the other of the gas diffusion layers is bonded to the uncoated portion of the catalyst coated membrane assembly . <EOS>