SB 1965 to fund stem cell research, $4 million each to 
UNC-CH, ECU, Wake Forest, and Duke

  

State Senator Walter Dalton (D-Cleveland/ Rutherford) has introduced SB 1965 to fund stem cell research, $4 million each to UNC-CH, ECU, Wake Forest, and Duke. Senators Stan Bingham (R-Davidson/Guilford) and Katie Dorsett (D-Guilford) are co-sponsors.  The bill is on the June 5 calendar to be taken up in Appropriations on Health and Human Services.  The committee members are:

Co-Chairman	Sen. Doug Berger
Co-Chairman	Sen. William R. Purcell
Members	Sen. Harris Blake, Sen. Charlie S. Dannelly, Sen. James Forrester, Sen. Steve Goss

Please call:

1) Your state senator and the primary sponsor of the legislation, Senator Dalton at (919) 733-4111 (switchboard number).  Ask your State Senator to oppose the legislation unless it is amended so that public funds cannot be used for research which destroys or harms an human embryo. When you call Senator Dalton's office, ask him to amend his bill so that no public funds can be used for research which will destroy or harm a human embryo. 

2) If you are a student or an alumnus of one of the universities named, call the President or Chancellor of your university to express your objection to public funds being used by the University for stem cell research that destroys a living human embryo.  If you are told that the legislature decides how the funds are to be used, then you should reply that Senator Dalton will listen to the wishes of the researchers and the universities that benefit from the distribution of the funds.  He will amend his bill if the University asks him to amend it.

UNC-CH: Chancellor James Moeser: (919) 962-1365

Wake Forest: President Dr. Nathan Hatch: (336) 758-5669

ECU: Chancellor Steve Ballard: (252) 328-6212

Duke: President Richard Brodhead: (919) 684-8111

FACTS:

There are currently 73 therapies using adult stem cells but no therapies using embryonic stem cells.  So far, embryonic stem cells have not provided any benefits to those who suffer from a variety of diseases. 

It is unethical to create human embryos just to destroy them for research purposes.  It is especially repugnant to use public funds to conduct such research.

There is much beneficial research that can be done with public funds that does not require the destruction of human embryos.

There are federal funds available for research on embryonic stem cell lines that already exist.

Visit www.stemcellresearch.org for more education and talking points.