WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Moderates within the president's own party reportedly are pushing for repeal of the Bush policy on embryonic stem cell research in the United States.
Rep. Charlie Bass, R-N.H., plans to offer a proposal repealing it when the House Energy and Commerce committee considers the reauthorization of the National Institutes of Health budget, the Washington Times said Monday.
The committee has yet to schedule the bill for consideration, giving Bass ample time to line up support for his approach, which is similar to that used by Reps. Mike Castle, R-Del., and Diana DeGette, D-Colo., in an earlier measure co-sponsored by 171 House members.
The Bush policy made federal funding available for the first time for embryonic stem-cell research but limited it to research involving a group of stem cell lines already in existence. Bass's proposal would lift that limitation and allow any stem cell line to be eligible for such funding, as long as it meets certain medical and ethical standards.
