Congressional Democrats early in 2007 expect to approve a bill similar to a measure (HR 810) President Bush vetoed earlier this year that would have expanded federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research, the Washington Post reports (Abramowitz/Weisman, Washington Post, 11/10). Likely future House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Wednesday said the measure will be voted on during the first 100 business hours of the next congressional session, which begins in January 2007, the Denver Post reports (Mulkren, Denver Post, 11/9). Federal funding for embryonic stem cell research is allowed only for research using embryonic stem cell lines created on or before Aug. 9, 2001, under a policy announced by President Bush on that date. Bush in July vetoed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005, which would have expanded stem cell lines that are eligible for federal funding and allowed funding for research using stem cells derived from embryos originally created for fertility treatments and willingly donated by patients. Congress lacked the two-thirds majority to override Bush’s veto (Kaiser Daily Women’s Health Policy Report, 11/9).

Outlook
Pelosi on Thursday said the addition of six Democrats in the Senate and 29 in the House likely would not be enough to override another Bush veto on the legislation but added that Democrats aim to “build public support for a signature” (Washington Post, 11/10). According to the Denver Post, Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), co-sponsor of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005, believes Tuesday’s election results might give the legislation “new life” (Denver Post, 11/9). Robert Klein — chair of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which is in charge of implementing the 10-year, $2.95 billion state human embryonic stem cell research program approved under California Proposition 71 — said, “Based on their known positions, we have a veto-proof Senate. The challenge will be the House, where we need about 35 votes on the Republican side.” Marcy Darnovsky, spokesperson for the Center for Genetics and Society, said the impact stem cell research-related issues had on outcomes in the elections is unclear because campaigns were cluttered by “distorted rhetoric” (Tansey, San Francisco Chronicle, 11/10).

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