Frist Speech on Stem Cells

Senator Frist is reportedly going to give the stem cell speech immediately after the preliminaries this morning. I'll update this throughout, but if you are able to watch along, you can do so here.

[Frist has now taken the floor, is making a number of unanimous consent requests and announcing the schedule for the morning. -- 9:04 a.m.]

[Frist begins the speech. Says that he's said since 2001 that the issue of stem cell research should be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Challenges that arise from advancing science and moral issues are incredibly and will continue happen as we move forward, will affect how we are looked upon by history. -- 9:08 a.m.]

[Fundamental questions that affect human life are "never easy." Discusses the issues involved in his own medical field, organ transplanation. -- 9:09 a.m.]

[Ethical construct of transplantation must honor the donor and the recipient. "We must get our stem cell policy right - scientifically and ethically." ... Notes his "comprehensive proposal" of four years ago, including the ten principles he laid out then, both adult and embryonic forms. -- 9:10 a.m.]

["Embryonic stem cells uniquely hold specific promise" ... says he believes the federal government should fund embryonic stem cell research, but only on those embryos left over from fertility therapy, those that are "destined, with 100% certainty, by the parents, to be discarded, destroyed. -- 9:12 a.m.]

[Reads his "fifth principle" from four years ago, adds that research must be taken under a "comprehensive ethical system." Now reads all ten of his "Frist Principles" from 2001. -- 9:14 a.m.]

["I'm a physician. My profession is healing ... continued commitment to heal ..." says he sees "great, great promise to heal" in stem cell research. "Stem cells offer hope for treatment that other lines of research simply cannot offer. Embryonic stem cells have special properties that make them uniquely powerful ... unlike other stem cells, embryonic stem cells are plouripotent" - can become cells from any part of the body, and can replicate themselves over and over and over." -- 9:17 a.m.]

[Notes that Bush's policy, announced August 9, 2001, is "fully consistent" with the principles Frist had laid out, and that's why he's supported it. But says that it restricted federal funding to those lines that had been established by that date, says we must ask the question of whether over time we would be able to realize the "full promise" of stem cell research. Says that when Bush announced, it was believed there would be 78 stem cell lines ... "this has proven not to be the case." Only 22 now available, and those now not stable. -- 9:19 a.m.]

["I believe the president's policy should be modified. We should expand federal funding ..." notes that he's been trying to bring stem cell bills to the floor but unsuccessful. Says the Senate will "in all likelihood" consider Specter-Harkin "at some point in this Congress." This is key. Not September, so many qualifications ("in all likelihood," "at some point in this Congress"). Notes that this bill has "significant shortcomings," outlined here. -- 9:23 a.m.]

[Frist continues going into his issues with Specter-Harkin, says it could "seriously undermine the informed consent process" and that he's not sure if all the decisions would be taken by the parents. But, he says, "with appropriate reservations, I will support" Specter-Harkin. There's the line. He said it. But when are we going to get a vote on it? -- 9:25 a.m.]

["I am pro-life." Notes difference between faith and science, but "this is about more than faith, it's also about science." -- 9:26 a.m.]

[Says we must be able to "make adjustments" to our stem cells policy as we move forward, to take account of the changing science. Says we should be also looking at all the new methods as well as those currently being utilized. -- 9:28 a.m.]

[Outlines four of the possible alternative methods, including the use of adult stem cells, to a greater degree. Says adult cells so far are the only ones with proven results. -- 9:29 a.m.]

[Adds now, again, that embryonic stem cells hold the most potential. "The ethical questions over embryonic stem cell research are profound, etc." We have to continue to discuss these questions. This is why senators must be allowed to discuss their various different measures cleanly, and says it will be brought to the floor for a "serious, thoughtful debate." -- 9:32 a.m.]

["As a physician, one should always give hope, but never false hope ... policymakers too ... we must stay within ethical guidelines. Cure today may be just a hope, a dream, but the promise is powerful enough. It's time for a modified policy, the right policy for this moment in time." -- 9:34 a.m.]

[Reid calls Frist's statement "courageous," says it will "bring hope to millions of Americans," and that is carries even more weight since he's a doctor. Says he "admires" Frist for taken this step. Specter "congratulates" Frist, says his speech is "the most important speech made this year, perhaps any year." Notes this is a life-and-death issue, that Frist's view has "enormous impact" when the Majority Leader takes this position. Says he's talked to Frist "many, many, many times ... I know how he has wrestled with this issue ... Frist's comments will "reverberate far and wide, will be heard around the world, including at the White House." Says he's talked to Bush about this repeatedly, "I know that the president will listen to what Senator Frist has had to say." -- 9:38 a.m.]

[Brownback now, clearly unhappy with Frist's new speech, but thanks him for his opposition to human cloning. Brings up a bunch of new theories about adult stem cells and how fast the science is moving. Very basic principle involved here, "whether or not the young human embryo is a life or a piece of property" and we must deal with this "precursor" question before we debate any question of embyronic stem cells. Notes that he "differs" on stem cell policy. -- 9:40 a.m.]

[Durbin says he "admires Frist very much," for his medical expertise and experience. "It says alot about him, it says alot about his heart, as does his statement this morning." Notes that his speech today gives millions "new hope." -- 9:41 a.m.]

[More from Durbin, but let me go back to Frist. He said outright, as I did not expect he would, that he will support Specter-Harkin; he did not commit in any serious way to bringing the bill to the floor at a time certain. He will get much scorn from the right for this, and while I am delighted that he's decided to return to his earlier position and support funding for research on embryos that would otherwise be discarded, I will believe in his sincerity when I hear his 'yea' vote on an actual bill. -- 9:45 a.m.]