Current Federal Legislative Issues
Coming Soon.
Current State Legislative Issues
Overview of LB 606
Continues to allow research on embryonic stem cell lines but bans the use of state funds or state facilities to create cell lines from embryos
- Would allow UNMC to do research on human embryonic stem cell lines so long as UNMC uses human embryonic stem cell lines developed elsewhere, or uses techniques that do not destroy an embryo
Bans state funding and use of state facilities to create a human embryo through SCNT
- Would allow UNMC to do research on somatic cell nuclear transfer lines so long as UNMC uses somatic cell nuclear transfer lines developed elsewhere
Makes available state matching funds for non-embryonic stem cell research
- Peer reviewed with representatives from both Nebraska medical schools and scientists outside of Nebraska, nominated from the 2 medical schools
- Will match, dollar for dollar, up to $500,000 of tobacco settlement funds per year
- No single institution is eligible to receive more than 70% of the distributed funds
Overview of LB 700
LB 700 is a bill in the Nebraska Legislature that purports to ban the cloning of humans. While LB 700 does in fact ban human cloning (called “reproductive cloning”), it also bans a technique known as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT- often called “therapeutic cloning”), which would significantly limit the research potential for cures and treatments of many debilitating diseases. LB 700 criminalizes these activities, classifying them as a felony and imposing harsh penalties, triggering a dulling effect on research in Nebraska. While we respect the views of those who oppose this research, a statewide ban that criminalizes this research will:
- deny life-affirming hope to countless patients and their families who seek cures for Diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease, spinal cord injuries, cancer and other debilitating diseases
- deny patients and families their right to support this research and obtain life-saving cures
- demoralize Nebraska researchers and chillingly hinder the University’s recruitment of cutting-edge scientists in many research disciplines
- stigmatize Nebraska as one of only six states that have banned and criminalized this 21st century research, while many other states are aggressively seeking state funding to support this research and are recruiting researchers who conduct it.
LB 700
- LB 700 would ban therapeutic cloning for research, which has the potential to save lives by developing new cures and treatments for debilitating diseases.
- LB 700 would set limits on the type of research that can be performed in Nebraska at a time when the benefits and possibilities of therapeutic cloning could be favorable for the 100 million Americans suffering from cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, Parkinson’s, spinal cord injuries, heart disease, ALS, and other devastating conditions.
- Not only would passage of LB 700 close the door to potential cures and treatments for many diseases, it would also have a negative effect on economic activity by discouraging top scientists and researchers from working in Nebraska.
- Only five states have passed similar laws, although none are as punitive as LB 700. In fact, two states with less punitive laws—Iowa and Michigan-- are trying rigorously to repeal their laws because of the terrible effects to their research enterprise that have occurred since passage. The other three states that have passed similar laws are North Dakota, South Dakota and Arkansas.
Archives Nebraska Legislature 2005-2006 |
