Senator Predicts Failure for Stem Cell and Cloning Bills

Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), a pro-life supporter of embryonic stem-cell research and therapeutic cloning,told the New England Journal of Medicine that it's probably going to take another Congress before regenerative medicine wins.

Rachel Gotbaum: So what is the outlook, given the momentum of this stem-cell research initiative? What will it take to make it law, in your view?

Orrin Hatch: Well, we’re going to win. I mean, we’re gradually just making the case, but unfortunately we’re 7 years behind where we would be in research had we not had this failure to win. It’s going to probably take another Congress to be able to really win on this issue.

Senator Hatch is a lead sponsor of both the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act and the Human Cloning Ban and Stem Cell Protection Act, so it can't be easy to admit that things will have to wait until President Bush is out of office.

On his pro-life views:

OH: I have to tell you I really believe that it was absolutely correct for me to support embryonic stem-cell research, and
I believe that being pro-life is more than just caring for the unborn —
it’s caring for the living as well.

On how he came to support embryonic stem-cell research:

OH: His name was Cody Anderson. He was 4 years of age, and you can imagine the horror his family had when they found out that he had exactly the same virulent diabetic condition that his grandfather had, who died at the premature age of 47 due to complications of diabetes after a series of something like 27 painful and debilitating and ultimately unsuccessful operations. I can still remember that little exhausted boy falling peacefully asleep in his father’s arms in my office as his family visited me in support of more funding for diabetes research. It dawned on me that we owe the best we can to these kids.

On using leftover blastocysts from IVF clinics for stem-cell research:

OH: Well, for the life of me, I cannot understand how anybody can argue that we should destroy 7000 to — or cast aside —
7000 to 20,000 in vitro fertilized eggs a year as hospital waste and thus kill them, and that that is a pro-life position. And not use them for the benefit of mankind.

On the possibility of Bush expanding federal funding to include the embryonic stem-cell lines derived since his 2001 deadline, as I
suggested before:

OH: [I]f you’re concerned about the destruction of the emb — the so-called, quote — destruction — unquote, of the embryo —
if you’re so concerned about that, then we have about 300 to 400
existing new embryonic stem-cell lines created by the private sector.
Why don’t you let NIH partner with those private-sector companies that are willing to partner with them in the development of those existing embryonic stem-cell lines, because that way you would not have had the government participate in this so-called, quote — destruction —
unquote. But of course, the answer was, well, that would be encouraging more stem-cell lines to be done and the destruction of human life.

The interview is really good, including a spot where he discusses how he feels the politicization of the embryonic stem-cell issue cost them a veto-proof majority in the Senate. Listen to it in full, or read the transcript. (.pdf)

Audio Interview: Expanding Federal Funding for Embryonic Stem-Cell Research [NEJM]