Last week reports circulated that House Republican leaders have agreed to allow a vote on a bill that would overturn President Bush's policy on embryonic stem cell research. The bill would provide federal funding for the destruction of human embryos. Unfortunately, because of the misinformation and downright lies that color the debate over stem cell research there may not be enough votes to stop such a bill. The hope is that whether from principled leadership by President Bush and congressional leadership or from successful efforts to educate members of Congress, enough minds can be changed to defeat the bill by the time it reaches the floor.

While liberals criticize the current policy as uncompassionate, the international community has adopted it as good ethics, and the free market is increasingly recognizing the real potential of adult stem cell research. The result has been the directing of private funds away from the killing of human life to the effective and ethical science of adult stem cell research. If members of Congress really want to provide cures, the limited pool of taxpayers' dollars should be given to research with adult stem cells. Good science and human life should not be sacrificed for political gain or personal profit.

The Family Research Council