Constitutional Law

Obama To Reverse Limits On Stem Cell Research, Reports Say

President Obama is planning to repeal Bush-era restrictions on funding of embryonic stem cell research. The Washington Post reported today that a White House ceremony is scheduled for Monday morning, where the president will sign an executive order lifting the restrictions. According to the newspaper, Obama's order will allow the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund scientific study of stem cell lines.

Early in his administration, President Bush signed an executive order limiting the lines of stem cells that scientists can study. Bush's move was lauded by religious lobbying groups that oppose stem cell research. But the move, as noted by The Post, was slammed by scientists as hindering 'the most promising fields of biomedical research.' Although no one with the administration would confirm Obama's plans, the newspaper reported on an e-mail sent yesterday from the White House about an event for Monday at which 'the president will sign an executive order related to stem cells.'

ABC News also reported on the planned White House event, noting that during his run for the presidency, Obama said the Bush order limiting stem cell research 'handcuffed our scientists and hindered our ability to compete with other nations.'

Full post as published by ACS Blog on March 06, 2009 (boomark / email).