Background and Legal Issues Related to Stem Cell Research

Publication Date: July 2006

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Health

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Abstract:

In August 2001, President Bush announced that federal funds, with certain restrictions, may be used to conduct research on human embryonic stem cells. Federal research is limited to "the more than 60" existing stem cell lines that were derived (1) with the informed consent of the donors; (2) from excess embryos created solely for reproductive purposes; and (3) without any financial inducements to the donors. No federal funds may be used for the derivation or use of stem cell lines derived from newly destroyed embryos; the creation of any human embryos for research purposes; or cloning of human embryos for any purposes. Legislation that responds to the limitations imposed by the President's 2001 announcement has been introduced. The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 (H.R. 810/S. 471) would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct and support stem cell research without regard to the date on which the stem cells were derived from a human embryo.