ASHI Washington

Health Care Issues

March 9 2001

 

 

Sec. Thompson Sued Over Stem Cells

 

On Thursday, a group called Human Life Advocates sued Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to block federal funding of research using human pluripotent stem cells.

 

The suit was brought on behalf of a group of eight organizations that argue the conduction of stem cell research will cut the number of embryos available for adoption. The plaintiffs asked the court to declare NIH guidelines, which were implemented in August and allow for public funding of research involving stem cells extracted from human embryos, unlawful.

 

Ari Fleischer, a spokesperson for President Bush, said the Administration will not come out with an official stand on the policy until sometime this summer when HHS has completed a review of the issue. In the meantime, Sec. Thompson has encouraged researchers to continue to apply for NIH grants using stem cell research.

 

House Appropriations Subcommittees Announced

 

On Wednesday, the House Leadership announced the complete assignments of all thirteen of the Appropriations subcommittees. The Chairman positions have been known for some time, but the make-up of the full committee was just released. New members to the Committee include: John Doolittle (R-CA); Ray LaHood (R-IL); John Sweeney (R-NY); David Vitter (R-LA); Don Sherwood (R-PA); Chaka Fattah (D-PA); Steven Rothman (R-NJ); James Clyburn (D-SC); and Patrick Kennedy (D-RI).

 

The Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Subcommittee will include the following members:

 

REPUBLICANS:

Ralph Regula, OH, Chairman

Bill Young, FL

Ernest Istook, OK

Dan Miller, FL

Roger Wicker, MS
Anne Northup, KY

Randy Cunningham, CA

Kay Granger, TX

John Peterson, PA

Don Sherwood, PA

DEMOCRATS:

David Obey, WI, Ranking Member

Steny Hoyer, MD

Nancy Pelosi, CA

Nita Lowey, NY

Rosa DeLauro, CT

Jesse Jackson, Jr., IL

Patrick Kennedy, RI

 

 

key Legislation Introduced

 

H. R. 953: Introduced March 8 by Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) to authorize grants to carry out programs to improve recovery rates for organs in eligible hospitals.

 

H.R. 955: Introduced March 8 by Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) to provide for a National Living Organ Donor Registry.

 

H. R. 967: Introduced March 8 by Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-OH) to require group and individual health insurance coverage and group health plans to provide coverage for individuals participating in approved cancer clinical trials, and Protection Act of 2000. (this Bill may have an impact on patient participation in all clinical trails)

 

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