ALERT: Urge Congress not to authorize funding of research that kills human embryos

In 2001, President George W. Bush adopted a policy against federal funding of the type of stem-cell research that requires the killing of human embryos. On March 9, 2009, President Barack Obama issued an order to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that nullified this pro-life policy, and authorized NIH to conduct "human embryonic stem cell research, to the extent permitted by law."

Congressional Democratic leaders, whose party currently holds majority control of both houses of Congress, have indicated that they will soon move legislation that would authorize federal funding of stem cell research. If enacted, such a bill would enshrine the bad policy in law, preventing any future pro-life president from blocking funding for embryo-destructive research.

Congressional advocates of embryonic stem cell research have not yet revealed exactly what legislation they will advance. But National Right to Life Committee has warned that the anticipated bills will be broader than bills that President Bush vetoed in 2006 and 2007. Those vetoed bills authorized the use of so-called "leftover" embryos, created at in vitro fertilization clinics to help infertile couples. Now, however, key backers of embryonic stem cell research have signaled their desire to remove all barriers to federal funding of research that would use human embryos who would be created for the specific purpose of research -- including embryos created by human cloning.

The National Right to Life Committee has strongly criticized President Obama for authorizing federal funding of research that destroys human embryos, and is also strongly opposed to any such legislation that would enshrine such a policy in federal law or which would pave the way for human cloning.

ACTION ITEM

Please take a few minutes to use the link below to send messages to your representative in the U.S. House and to your two U.S. senators, urging them to oppose the upcoming legislation that would authorize federal funding of research that requires the killing of human embryos. You can modify the suggested messages as you see fit. When you fill in your mailing address, your messages will automatically be directed to the appropriate U.S. House member and to your two U.S. senators.

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