Specter for the Cure

Senator Arlen Specter intends to build a "bridge over the valley of death."

Senator Specter has launched “Specter for the Cure”, a bold new initiative to reform our government’s medical research efforts, cut red tape and untangle the hope for accelerated cures.

 

Senator Arlen Specter on Stem Cells: 

• As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Sen. Specter successfully included a provision to increase the funding to the National Institutes of Health by $6.5 billion, for a total of $10 billion in the legislation.

 

• Sen. Specter has held 20 hearings directly relating to stem cell research, chairing the LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee's first hearing regarding stem cells on December 2, 1998.

 

• During the 109th Congress, the house companion bill to S.471, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, was passed by Congress, but vetoed by President Bush. The vote to override the veto in the House failed. The legislation would expand the number of stem cell lines that are eligible for federally funded research, thereby accelerating scientific progress toward cures and treatments for a wide range of diseases and debilitating health conditions.
  In the 110th Congress, Sen. Specter is a lead cosponsor of S. 5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, which is identical to the legislation in the 109th Congress. The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act was passed by Congress, but a vote to override the veto in the house again failed.

 

• Sen. Specter was a lead cosponsor of the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act, which was signed into law in 2005. The legislation directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into contracts with qualified cord blood stem cell banks to assist in the establishment, provision, and maintenance of a National Cord Blood Stem Cell Banks Network. As Chairman and Ranking Member of the LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee, Sen. Specter has worked to provide funding for this effort. For fiscal year 2008, $8.8 million was provided for cord blood programs, an increase of $6 million from fiscal year 2007.