THE
PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Please be seated. Good afternoon, and welcome
to the White House. I have just met with 21 remarkable families. Each of
them has answered the call to ensure that our society's most vulnerable
members are protected and defended at every stage of life.
The families here today have either adopted or given up for adoption
frozen embryos that remained after fertility treatments. Rather than
discard these embryos created during in vitro fertilization, or turn
them over for research that destroys them, these families have chosen a
life-affirming alternative. Twenty-one children here today found a
chance for life with loving parents. (Applause.)
I believe America must pursue the tremendous possibilities of science,
and I believe we can do so while still fostering and encouraging respect
for human life in all its stages. (Applause.) In the complex debate over
embryonic stem cell research, we must remember that real human lives are
involved --both the lives of those with diseases that might find cures
from this research, and the lives of the embryos that will be destroyed
in the process. The children here today are reminders that every human
life is a precious gift of matchless value. (Applause.)
I appreciate Mike Leavitt, Department of Health and Human Services,
for being here. He's the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human
Services. I picked a really good man to take on this assignment. He's
doing a fine job. (Applause.)
I want to thank the Executive Director of Nightlight Christian
Adoptions, Ron Stoddart, for joining us today. Welcome. (Applause.) I
want to thank Lori Maze, the Director of Snowflakes Frozen Embryo
Adoption program. Welcome, Lori. Thank you for coming. (Applause.) And
thank you all for being here.
The rapid advance of science presents us with the hope of eventual
cures for terrible diseases, and with profound moral and ethical
dilemmas. The decisions we make today will have far-reaching
consequences. So we must aggressively move forward with medical
research, while also maintaining the highest ethical standards.
Research on stem cells derived from human embryos may offer great
promise, but the way those cells are derived today destroys the embryo.
I share the hope of millions of Americans who desperately want to find
treatments and cures for terrible diseases such as juvenile diabetes and
Parkinson's disease. That is why my administration completing --
completed the doubling of the NIH budget to $29 billion a year, to
encourage research. I also made available for the first time federal
funds for embryonic stem cell research in order to explore the potential
of these cells.
But I also recognize the grave moral issues at stake. So, in August
2000 first -- 2001, I set forward a policy to advance stem cell research
in a responsible way by funding research on stem cell lines derived only
from embryos that had already been destroyed. This policy set a clear
standard: We should not use public money to support the further
destruction of human life. (Applause.)
Under this policy we have supported a great deal of ethical research.
About 600 shipments of eligible stem cell lines are already being used
by researchers across the country, and over 3,000 more shipments are
still available. We've increased funding for all forms of stem cell
research by more than 80 percent since I took office. A tremendous
amount of both public and private research is underway in America on
embryonic, as well as adult stem cells, and stem cells from umbilical
cord blood.
Today the House of Representatives is considering a bill that
violates the clear standard I set four years ago. This bill would take
us across a critical ethical line by creating new incentives for the
ongoing destruction of emerging human life. Crossing this line would be
a great mistake.
Even now researchers are exploring alternative sources of stem cells,
such as adult bone marrow and umbilical cord blood, as well as different
ethical ways of getting the same kind of cells now taken from embryos
without violating human life or dignity. With the right policies and the
right techniques, we can pursue scientific progress while still
fulfilling our moral duties.
I want to thank Nightlight Christian Adoptions for their good work.
Nightlight's embryo adoption program has now matched over 200 biological
parents with about 140 adoptive families, resulting in the birth of 81
children so far, with more on the way. (Applause.)
The children here today remind us that there is no such thing as a
spare embryo. Every embryo is unique and genetically complete, like
every other human being. And each of us started out our life this way.
These lives are not raw material to be exploited, but gifts. And I
commend each of the families here today for accepting the gift of these
children and offering them the gift of your love. (Applause.)
Thank you for coming today. By the way, we're having a little
birthday gathering just in a second for Tanner and Noelle. You all are
invited to partake in a little birthday cake. (Laughter.) In the
meantime, may God bless you and your families, and may God continue to
bless our country. Thank you. (Applause.)