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Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation Lauds U.S. Senate Passage of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act

Posted on: Friday, 13 April 2007, 12:00 CDT

SHORT HILLS, N.J., April 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation (CDRF), the national, non-profit organization dedicated to finding cures and treatments for spinal cord injuries and improving the lives of people living with paralysis, applauds the U.S. Senate for passing S5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.

"We are thrilled that the bi-partisan members of the United States Senate have listened to the voices of the American people and voted in favor of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. This critical legislation is the only pro-research, pro-cures bill that will truly advance stem cell research, holding promise for millions of people living with paralysis and a range of other conditions who dream of cures in their lifetime," said Peter D. Kiernan, Chairman and CEO of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act originally passed both Houses of Congress by wide margins in the summer of 2006, but was vetoed by President Bush. The bill was reintroduced into the 110th Congress on January 9, 2007 and, for a second time, the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of lifting the arbitrary ban on federally funded stem cell research. Now that the bill has passed through the U.S. Senate once again, it will go back to the President for his approval.

"With the support of the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate and an overwhelming majority of Americans, we now look to the President to revaluate his position on this issue and sign the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act into law," Kiernan noted. "Christopher Reeve often said that he wished to live in a world where politics did not stand in the way of hope. It is our wish that President Bush does not stand in the way of hope, and that instead, he stands up for those who cannot by advancing this potentially lifesaving science with the support and oversight of the federal government."

About CDRF

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research, and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.christopherreeve.org/ or call 800-225-0292.

Media Contacts: Maggie Goldberg CDRF (973) 379-2690 mgoldberg@ChristopherReeve.org Shaun Leavy MWW Group (201) 964-2427 sleavy@mww.com

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation

CONTACT: Media, Maggie Goldberg, of CDRF, +1-973-379-2690,mgoldberg@ChristopherReeve.org; or Shaun Leavy, MWW Group, +1-201-964-2427,sleavy@mww.com, for The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

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