Rep. DeGette To Introduce Bill Codifying Embryonic Stem Cell Research Guidelines

January 17, 2013 — Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) is preparing to introduce legislation when the 113th Congress convenes that would permanently set into law NIH's 2009 guidelines on embryonic stem cell research, CQ HealthBeat reports (Reichard, CQ HealthBeat, 1/15).

In 2009, President Obama enacted a policy in which NIH could conduct "scientifically worthy human stem cell research to the extent permitted by law." Subsequent NIH guidelines stipulated that researchers could use stem cell lines derived from donated frozen embryos that are no longer needed for fertility treatments (Women's Health Policy Report, 1/8).

On Tuesday, DeGette's spokesperson said the bill would be introduced "at the beginning of the session," adding that it is "absolutely a top priority" for her.

DeGette commended the U.S. Supreme Court's refusal on Jan. 7 to hear a case challenging the Obama administration's funding policy for human embryonic stem cells. She said "scores of researchers across the [country] finally have the stability and continuity to conduct their critical research, without the lingering threat of this court case" (CQ HealthBeat, 1/15).