The Senate yesterday passed two more stem cell research enhancement bills, one President Bush has vowed to veto, the other he has vowed to sign.

The bill Bush will veto: Passing by a 63-43 vote, the bill S. 5 -- the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 – would allow the spending of federal funds to support research utilizing stem cells derived from human embryos. This research would be limited by three ethical requirements:

• the stem cells must be derived from human embryos donated from in vitro fertilization clinics for the purpose of fertility treatment and be in excess of the needs of the individuals seeking such treatment;

• the embryos must have never been intended for implantation in a woman and would have been discarded if not used for research; and

• persons donating the embryos must do so only after giving their written informed consent and may receive no financial or other inducements in return for their donation.

The bill is essentially identical to the one vetoed by President Bush in 2006. Though the bill had passed 63-37, the Senate did not attempt to override the veto. A two-thirds majority, or 67 votes would have been required to do so.

"This bill (S. 5) crosses a moral line that I and many others find troubling. If it advances all the way through Congress to my desk, I will veto it," said President Bush in a press release.

The bill Bush will sign: Also passed in the Senate by a vote of 70-28, the bill S. 30 – The Hope Act – would expand funding for stem cell research using only those techniques which do not involve:

• the creation of a human embryo or embryos for research purposes; or

• the destruction or discarding of, or risk of injury to, a human embryo of embryos other than those that are naturally dead.

Of the Hope Act, President Bush said, "I strongly support this bill, and I encourage the Congress to pass it and send it to me for my signature, so stem cell science can progress, without ethical and cultural conflict."

Also See:
About Presidential Vetoes
Bush May Veto More Bills from New Congress