New Push for Stem Cell Bill

Nancy Reagan has renewed her efforts to urge the Senate to pass the long-stalled stem cell research bill, according to the NYTimes. In a May 1 letter to Sen. Orrin Hatch (who supports the bill) Mrs. Reagan wrote "the wait for United States Senate action has been very difficult and hard to comprehend ... There is just no more time to wait."

Sen. Arlen Specter, the lead sponsor of the bill along with Sen. Tom Harkin, says he is still trying to negotiate timing with Majority Leader Frist, "and expected to reach a deal by the end of this week." Debate and a vote could come before the end of the month.

The bill in question would allow funding of research on stem cell lines drawn from embryos left over at fertility clinics that would otherwise be discarded. It passed the House a year ago.