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Bush veto will serve international stem cell research 'a critical blow', says UK Stem Cell Foundation  

President Bush will turn his back on the US Senate and the majority of the American population if he presses ahead with plans to issue his first ever veto against legislation supporting federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.

The UK Stem Cell Foundation said today (Wednesday 19th July) that the veto would be the single biggest setback to the advance of stem cell research this year.

The legislation, which would permit federal funding of stem cell research carried out on embryos discarded from fertility clinics, was passed by the Senate yesterday 63 votes to 37, just four votes short of the two-thirds majority required to override the presidential veto.

David Macauley , Chief Executive of the UK Stem Cell Foundation said: “This decision will severely hamper advances in international research. This is not about which country will be the first to ‘win the stem cell race’. It is about realising the immense potential of stem cell research to improve and even save people’s lives. This will only be achieved if we encourage research and foster international collaboration.

“We are fortunate in the UK to benefit from a supportive legislative and political climate, yet even with the encouraging financial commitments made by the UK government there still exists a huge gap in funding for promising stem cell research. It is vital that private investors see an equal commitment to stem cell research from governments worldwide.”

This would be the first time that President Bush has used the presidential veto while in office despite a number of threats. The news will dishearten the great number of US campaigners who have fought hard to introduce the Stem Cell Enhancement Act, including Republican leader of the Senate, Bill Frist, Nancy Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger.