Silver, Broad-Based Coalition Tout 'Landmark'
Stem Cell Research Bill

Silver Initiative Would Foster Research; Prohibit Reproductive Cloning

Speaker Silver, joined by a host of Assembly members, addresses a Capitol news conference calling on the Senate and the governor to support the Assembly's stem cell research bill. Paul Richter of the Spinal Cord Society and Mike DiScipio of the Capital District Chapter Spinal Cord Society praised the Assembly for supporting research legislation that could help the thousands of people who suffer not only from spinal injuries, but from serious diseases such as MS and Parkinson's.

The state Assembly today overwhelmingly passed legislation sponsored by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan), aimed at fostering biomedical research, while setting critical guidelines in the use of human stem cells in efforts to cure some of the world's most debilitating diseases.

The Reproductive Cloning Prohibition and Research Protection Act (A.6249-A) would prohibit the use of reproductive cloning while allowing critical scientific activities concerning both therapeutic cloning and stem cell research, as well as the related applications of such research, and in-vitro fertilization. Violations of the reproductive cloning prohibition would include prosecution as a Class D felony and civil penalties of up to $1 million.

Standing with Silver at a Capitol news conference in support of the legislation were Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried, Task Force on People with Disabilities Chair Kevin Cahill, Assembly member Scott Stringer and other Assembly Majority members. Also participating were and representatives from Family Planning Advocates (FPA), Spinal Cord Society and New Yorkers for the Advancement of Medical Research (NYAMR), a coalition of public-interest groups representing the tens of thousands of New Yorkers who suffer from diseases whose potential treatment and cure could come from stem cell research.

Assembly Health Committee Chairman Richard Gottfried said, "Human stem cell research and therapeutic cloning could offer immense promise for developing new treatments and prevention methods for many debilitating diseases."

According to Silver, the measure also would create a 10-member legislative commission on human cloning to examine, evaluate and advise the state Legislature on issues relating to human cloning, genetic engineering and stem cell research. Under the bill, the commission would be required to issue an annual report, thereby ensuring that the voices of science are an integral part of biotech policymaking in the State of New York.

"Stem cell research offers immense promise to the estimated 128 million Americans who suffer daily from truly debilitating, life-threatening, degenerative diseases, such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and diabetes," said Silver. "In light of the unprecedented treatments, possible therapies and potential cures that could be discovered and developed through the pursuit of this research, we owe it to those who suffer to explore every feasible scientific avenue available to humankind.

Assembly member Kevin Cahill (D-Kingston), chair of the Legislative Task Force on People with Disabilities and another sponsor of the bill, said stem cell research could eliminate tremendous human suffering.

"Reproductive cloning, which holds many ethical and moral taboos, is a practice we want to ensure does not take place in New York State," said Silver. "However, stem cell research is a valuable tool for scientists to utilize in the quest to solve the mysteries of some of our most terrible illnesses. Stem cell research holds promise for the legions of people who are stricken with conditions ranging from spinal cord injuries to infertility."

"Human stem cell research and therapeutic cloning offer immense promise for developing new treatment and prevention methods for many debilitating diseases, including Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes and Parkinson's disease," said Gottfried (D-Manhattan), also a sponsor of the legislation.

"Stem cell research is the key to opening the door to new treatments and cures for diseases that plague our society. Passage of this legislation will give new life to scientific advancement in New York," said Scott Stringer (D-Manhattan).

"It is time that stem cell research and therapeutic cloning become acceptable research techniques so that we can eliminate the tremendous human suffering and the loss of billions of dollars associated with these conditions," said Cahill, chair of the Legislative Task Force on People with Disabilities and another sponsor of the measure.

Organizations in support of the bill include FPA and NYAMR, which consists of: AMDEC, (a biotechnology advocacy organization); American Diabetes Association; Biotechnology Association of New York; Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation; Columbia University Medical Center; Community Health Charities of New York; Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; Lupus Foundation; Parkinson's Action Network; Parkinson's Alliance; Parkinson's Disease Foundation; Project ALS and Tourette's Syndrome Association.

Assembly member Scott Stringer (D-Manhattan) said passage of this legislation would "give new life to scientific advancement in New York."

"This is a non-partisan issue. Disease does not know party affiliation or philosophy. Diseased people belong to their own party, the party of the ailing. Every minute counts. New York State should be in the forefront of stem cell research, not bringing up the rear. We applaud the New York State Assembly for their leadership and strongly urge the New York State Senate to introduce and pass favorable stem cell legislation so this can become a reality for New Yorkers," said Renee Albert, member, National Board of Directors, Hadassah.

"It is a very courageous thing that the Speaker and the Assembly are doing today," said Paul Richter, state coordinator, Spinal Cord Society and a retired New York State Trooper who was injured in 1973. "I urge the Senate to support this type of research legislation that could help the thousands of people who suffer not only from spinal injuries, but from serious diseases such as MS and Parkinson's.

"I would like to thank Speaker Silver and the other members of the Assembly for acting on this important legislation. I hope that Senator Kemp Hannon will pass this through the Senate Health Committee and Majority Leader Bruno will bring it to the Senate floor," said Mike DiScipio, a quadriplegic living in the town of Colonie who came to the Capitol to support the Speaker's legislation which could lead to historic breakthroughs in treatments and ultimately, cures.

5. "We applaud the New York State Assembly for their leadership and strongly urge the New York State Senate to introduce and pass favorable stem cell legislation so this can become a reality for New Yorkers," said Renee Albert, member, National Board of Directors, Hadassah.

"Today, we are pleased to join New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and the millions of Americans suffering with chronic or debilitating illnesses such as juvenile (type 1) diabetes, Alzheimer's, spinal cord injury, heart disease and many others to support this critical legislation" said Herb Gordon, national volunteer consultant for state legislative issues at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and grandfather of a 12-year old with Juvenile Diabetes. "This bill will define New York as a leader in this critical area of research."

"At this point, no one knows exactly what doors may be opened by the promise of stem cell research. Everyone hopes that they will be both identifiable and significant. One thing is certain, however: we will never know unless we allow the best scientists to pursue the most promising science with the fewest constraints. We, at PDF, thank the speaker for taking this first momentous step to that end. PDF, approaching its 50th anniversary in 2007, is committed to two objectives: chasing the cure for Parkinson's disease, while striving to provide those who are its victims with the best quality of life possible," said Robin Elliott, executive director of Parkinson's Disease Fund (PDF).

"If stem cell research does not go forward, New Yorkers suffering from Parkinson's, Juvenile Diabetes and other debilitating diseases may be denied the best possible treatments science has to offer," said JoAnn Smith, president and CEO of FPA. "This legislation extends new hope to patients and their families. Doctors and scientists must be allowed to pursue the promise of stem cell research."

Mike DiScipio, a quadriplegic living in the town of Colonie who came to the Capitol to support the Speaker's legislation that could lead to historic breakthroughs in treatments and ultimately cures, thanked Silver and the other members of the Assembly for acting on this important legislation.

"I applaud Speaker Sheldon Silver's efforts to promote embryonic stem cell research and therapeutic cloning in New York. I agree with Nancy Reagan. Stem cell research and SCNT hold great promise and could lead to treatments and cures for some of the most debilitating diseases of our time, said Dean Fischbach, Columbia University Medical Center.

Citing the millions of Americans who suffer from crippling diseases, Silver said, "For those who face the daily challenges of these life-altering diseases, and for the caregivers who work tirelessly to bring them comfort and hold the faith that cures can and will be found, we owe it to them to tap every feasible resource to ease their burden, as well as help answer other questions of medicine and biology."

"It is with a determined sense of commitment to those who suffer that the Assembly Majority continues its quest to put New York State in the forefront of biomedical research," said Silver. "The potential benefits of this ground-breaking research are far too great to ignore."