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Wnitd Sates Smate

WASHINGTON, DC 20510
February 12, 1999
The Honorable Donna E. Shalala
The Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW SPECIAL

Washington, D.C. 20201
Dear Secretary Shalala:

We are deeply concerned with what appears to be a unilateral attempt on your part to effectively
undermine congressional intent, by circumventing the current federal funding ban on embryo
research.

Of particular concern to us is testimony Dr. Varmus gave on January 26, 1999, during a hearing
before the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education.
During Dr. Varmus’ testimony he stated, “Dr. Thomson and his co-workers derived pluripotent
stem cells from the blastocyst stage of an early embryo -— the embryos used were donated by
couples who were receiving infertility treatment, this derivation of stem cells from the embryo
does fall under the ban on Federal funding.” The contention being made is that once the stem
cells are derived, federal funding of research which directly relies on such destruction is

acceptable. We disagree.

Also of concer to us is Dr. Varmus’ response to a statement by some researchers that human
pluripotent stem cells may come together in culture to begin developing as an embryo. If this
does occur, then NIH would be directly violating the congressionally imposed ban by funding
embryonic stem cell research. Dr. Varmus stated that he was unsure if it does occur, and that it
would be “grossly unethical” to try to find out because that would involve implantation. If the
director of the National Institutes of Health is unsure, then the proper course of action would be
to take no action. Better to exr on the side of preserving congressional intent than destroying it.

Congress never intended for the National Institutes of Health to give mcentives for the killing of
human embryos for the purpose of stem ceil research. We are very interested in any further
insight you might provide on this issue and look forward to hearmng from you soon.

 

 

Sincerely, 7
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