My Opinion on Funding Stem Cell Research ...
Stem Cell Research appears to be fundamentally necessary to understand & learn about new potential cures for so many debilitating diseases and injuries. But, the facts about where stem cells are derived and whether it ends a life or not have gotten carried away.
HR 810: Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005
The summary of this legislation, as posted on the Library of Congress web site, states:
"Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct and support research that utilizes human embryonic stem cells, regardless of the date on which the stem cells were derived from a human embryo, provided such embryos: (1) have been donated from in vitro fertilization clinics; (2) were created for the purposes of fertility treatment; (3) were in excess of the needs of the individuals seeking such treatment and would never be implanted in a woman and would otherwise be discarded (as determined in consultation with the individuals seeking fertility treatment); and (4) were donated by such individuals with written informed consent and without any financial or other inducements."
What does it mean?
Basically, the excess donations by a couple that will be discarded should be permitted for use in obtaining stem cells for further stem-cell-cure research, rather than be lost to the trash. So, thanks to the veto, if there are surplus stem cells in excess of what research can afford to acquire, those cells will be destroyed. That doesn't serve anyone well.
What is a Stem Cell?
The BioTech Dictionary defines as stem cell as:
"A cell that can replicate indefinitely and which can differentiate into other cells; stem cells serve as a continuous source of new cells. Specifically, this refers to the self-regenerating cells in bone marrow, testes, embryos and umbilical cords."
Click on this thumbnail to see a larger picture of a 3-day-old embryo 
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