Former First Lady Nancy Reagan Lauds Obama's Embryonic Stem Cells Decision

March 10, 2009 9:35 a.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Republicans on Monday decried President Barack Obama's lifting of the ban on embryonic stem cell research, but former First Lady Nancy Reagan, whose husband had suffered from Alzheimer's disease, welcomed the decision and said she is "grateful" to the President.

Obama signed an executive order on Monday reversing the eight-year ban on research using embryonic stem cells.

Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells that exist only within five days of embryonic development. They have an indefinite capacity for self-renewal, making them ideal for tissue replacement and for treating diseases, including degenerative diseases, spinal cord injuries, diabetes and heart disease.

Federal funds for embryonic stem cell research were limited by former President George W. Bush to 22 stem cell lines created before August 2001. The former president, with the support of conservatives and evangelicals, had said such research was increasingly unnecessary because of scientific advances that allowed the use of adult stem cells.

But according to a primer by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), which aims to advance stem cell research and regenerative medicine, adult stem cells are extremely useful for future therapies but are restricted in what they can do.

The 87-year-old Reagan, who had urged former President George W. Bush to support embryonic stem cell research, said in a statement on Monday she is "very grateful" to Obama for lifting the ban, according to Politico.

"I urge researchers to make use of the opportunities that are available to them, and to do all they can to fulfill the promise that stem cell research offers. Countless people, suffering from many different diseases, stand to benefit from the answers stem cell research can provide. We owe it to ourselves and to our children to do everything in our power to find cures for these diseases -- and soon. As I've said before, time is short, and life is precious," the former first lady added.

The same day, Republicans strongly criticized the President.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in a statement called the decision "a troubling shift in U.S. policy." He added, "The government is, for the first time, incentivizing the creation and destruction of human embryos at the expense of the U.S. taxpayer. I support biomedical research and I believe the administration would be far better served by directing taxpayer funds to research on non-embryonic stem cells, which is both effective and ethical."

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) stood firm in saying such research is unnecessary with the availability of adult stem cells.

"The President has rolled back important protections for innocent life, further dividing our nation at a time when we need greater unity to tackle the challenges before us. I fully support stem cell research, but I draw the line at taxpayer-funded research that requires the destruction of human embryos, and millions of Americans feel similarly," he said in a statement.

"Non-embryonic stem cell research is not only showing great promise in the laboratory, but its applications are already being used to treat scores of diseases and medical conditions. Indeed, science and respect for human life can coexist," Boehner added.

The Republican Study Committee (RSC), a group of conservative Republicans in the House, called on Obama to reconsider his decision.

"Ignoring moral questions is not change in which Americans can believe... Scientific evidence, not political patronage, demonstrates the ability for researchers to solve our moral dilemma without having President Obama force taxpayers to subsidize research that will destroy human embryos. Successful research does not have to come at the expense of human life. I call on President Obama to reconsider his decision," RSC chair Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) said in a statement.

Obama was surrounded by a Democratic leaders and a bevy of scientists when he signed his executive order at the White House. There were also several Republicans present, including Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), who had said over the weekend in a statement, "This research enhances, not diminishes, human life."