On Tuesday and Wednesday, April 10 and 11, the Senate will proceed to 20 hours of debate on legislation pertaining to embryonic stem cell research (ESCR). The 20 hours will be divided as follows:

• 5 hours under the control of Majority Leader Reid or his designees(s).

• 5 hours under the control of Republican Leader McConnell or his designees(s).

• 5 hours under the control of Senator Harkin or his designees(s) and

• 5 hours under the control of Senator Brownback or his designees(s).

Following debate, 2 votes will occur:

The first Vote will be on the Harkin/Specter pro-embryonic stem cell research bill (S.5) which would increase taxpayer funding for experiments that involve the killing of human beings at the embryonic stage of development.

The bill must receive 60 votes for passage. Your calls asking for a NO vote on S. 5 are very important!

President Bush has said he will veto this bill if it goes to his desk.

The second Vote will be on the Coleman/Isakson Stem Cell “Alternatives” Bill (S. 30). This bill must also receive 60 votes for passage.

The Coleman/Isakson bill would allow taxpayer funding of research on embryos as long as they are “naturally dead.” We find the language of this bill troubling.

At RNC/Life, we adhere to the general principle that legislation authorizing research on human embryos whether living or dead is a bad idea. We do not wish to encourage in any way the concept that there is any justification for performing scientific experiments on human embryos.

All of the progress in stem cell research is occurring through the use of non-embryonic stem cells and it is that research we wish to encourage and fund. Therefore, we urge a NO vote on S. 30.