What's Bill Waiting 4?

Last year, you and I stood together to help push the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act through the House. Then we got Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist to buck the White House and announce his support, and victory seemed within reach.

It's now been eight months - eight months - since Senator Frist said he had changed his mind and would support expanding stem cell research beyond President Bush's stifling limitations. That was a moment when millions of Americans suffering from Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease, spinal cord injury, diabetes, and other tragic illnesses found renewed hope for a cure - if not for them, for generations to come.

All Senator Frist had to do was schedule a vote. Nobody demanded that he do anything more. One simple vote on the bill that had already passed easily through the House, and it would be placed on President Bush's desk to test his veto threat.

Summer ended, and still no vote. Fall came and went- still no vote. Now, as we are coming up on the 2006 elections, many are fearing that Senator Bill Frist's promise was empty. And today, we have a chance to demand action.

Spread the Word, Tell Senator Frist: Time's Up, Hold the Vote on Stem Cell Research

Senator Frist may think that we've forgotten his promise - we need to make clear that we have not. This is far too important. So we're renewing our petition to Senator Frist. You signed it last summer telling him to hold a vote -- can you tell five friends and family members that Senator Frist needs to hear from them too?

Spread the Word, Tell Senator Frist: Time's Up, Hold the Vote on Stem Cell Research

Last week, we lost Dana Reeve to lung cancer. Touched by the great personal challenge of her husband's paralysis, Dana worked to ensure that other families would not have to endure the same pain. Her fight to fulfill the potential of stem cell research brought the issue from the brink of oblivion to the cusp of success. As Dana said after the passing of her husband Christopher, no less an American hero himself: "Today is the right moment to transform our grief into hope." Even after her loss, and even as she suffered through her own dreadful illness, she fought for the hope that stem cell research gives to millions of Americans.

The National Institutes of Health tell us that a range of diseases from Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, to spinal cord injury, to stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer could potentially be addressed with this research. Perhaps it will be years, or even decades, until this potential is fulfilled. But every day Senator Frist makes us wait is another day that people will suffer waiting for a cure.

The last obstacle to putting this bill before President Bush is Senator Frist's refusal to hold a vote in the Senate, where most expect it to pass overwhelmingly.

Spread the Word, Tell Senator Frist: Time's Up, Hold the Vote on Stem Cell Research

Please consider doing what you can to make sure the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act gets the vote that Senator Frist promised. Together, we can help ensure that President Bush recognizes the will of the American people and signs it into law.

The bipartisan bill proposed by my friend, Congresswoman Diana DeGette of Colorado, had already passed overwhelmingly in the House, one of the few moments where many Republicans bucked both President Bush and Tom DeLay to do what was right for American families.

But the hopes of millions of Americans, depending on American innovation, were dashed when the matter became trapped again in cruel legislative limbo.

Together, we'll send a united message to Senator Frist that we haven't forgotten his promise.

Spread the Word, Tell Senator Frist: Time's Up, Hold the Vote on Stem Cell Research

This isn't a matter of partisan politics. It's time to move forward. Let's work together to help those around us and to continue the legacy of our friends and fighters for the cause. Thank you for everything.

Sincerely,




Nancy Pelosi
House Democratic Leader

P.S. - When I need reminding of what's at stake with stem cell research, I still go look through the hundreds and hundreds of stories that ordinary Americans sent into the DCCC last year explaining their personal reasons for supporting it. I invite you to do the same: