INTRODUCTION: What happened to the "Maryland Stem Cell Research Act of 2005"?
On April 4, I sent you a Life Alert about Senate Bill 751: "Maryland Stem Cell Research Act of 2005." Pro-Life Maryland, together with the Family Protection Lobby, Maryland Catholic Conference, Maryland Right to Life and the Maryland Christian Coalition, prompted many calls and e-mail messages to Maryland Senators. A bipartisan group of 20 pro-life senators promised an extended filibuster, courageously withstanding great pressure from constituents who wanted them to support the bill. Because advocates of the bill could not get enough votes to break the filibuster, Senate Bill 751 never left committee or reached the Senate floor. The "Maryland Stem Cell Research Act of 2005" was also crossfiled as House Bill 1183, and was passed in the House, 81- 53, on March 26. A positive vote in the Senate would have had grave implications for innocent life in the state of Maryland. On April 11, the 420th Regular Session of the Maryland General Assembly adjourned.
PRO-LIFE VICTORY: Why is the failure of the "Maryland Stem Cell Research Act of 2005" significant?
In the Life Alert sent on April 4, I directed your attention to an informative letter from eight members of the President's Council on Bioethics, which was addressed to the Maryland Senate on March 31, 2005. In summary, as amended, the bill would have not simply permitted, but funded horrific experimentation causing the destruction of human life. In contrast to the alternatively proposed legislation, House Bill 1356: Adult Stem Cell Research Program, which died in the Health and Government Operations committee ...
If the "Maryland Stem Cell Research Act" were passed:
1. Human embryos acquired from infertility treatments could be used (and destroyed) for stem-cell research.
2. Human eggs acquired from infertility treatments could also be used to manufacture new human embryos, which would then be destroyed for their stem cells.
3. Human fetuses could be "harvested," by implanting human embryos into women's wombs; the purpose would be to obtain more developed cells, tissues and organs by aborting the unborn child at a later date.
4. Human cloning would be allowed, with the only limit being that no cloned human being may be born alive.
ACTION: Please THANK your Senators and Delegates.
It is important that we thank the 20 pro-life senators who promised to filibuster this bill and the 53 delegates who voted against House Bill 1183. With intense pressure to support it, undoubtedly it was a difficult stand for many. Let us show our appreciation and support. To find out who your senator or delegate is, click here.
The following pro-life Senators promised to filibuster the bill if it ever reached the Senate floor:
Senator John Hafer (R), Dist. 01, 410-841-3565
Senator Donald Munson (R), Dist. 02, 410-841- 3609
Senator Alex Mooney (R), Dist. 03, 410-841-3575
Senator David Brinkley (R), Dist. 04, 410-841-3704
Senator Larry Haines (R), Dist. 05, 410-841-3683
Senator Norman Stone (D), Dist. 06, 410-841-3587
Senator Andy Harris (R), Dist. 07, 410-841-3706
Senator Alan Kittleman (R), Dist. 09, 410-841- 3671
Senator Sandra Schrader (R), Dist. 13, 410-841- 3572
Senator John Giannetti, Jr. (D), Dist. 21, 410-841- 3141
Senator Leo Green (D), Dist. 23, 410-841-3631
Senator Roy Dyson (D), Dist. 29, 410-841-3673
Senator Phil Jimeno (D), Dist. 31, 410-841-3658
Senator Ed DeGrange (D), Dist. 32, 410-841-3593
Senator Janet Greenip (R), Dist. 33, 410-841-3568
Senator Nancy Jacobs (R), Dist. 34, 410-841-3158
Senator Bob Hooper (R), Dist. 35, 410-841-3603
Senator EJ Pipkin (R), Dist. 36, 410-841-3639
Senator Richard Colburn (R), Dist. 37, 410-841- 3590
Senator Lowell Stoltzfus (R), Dist. 38, 410-841- 3645
Click here to e-mail all of the senators
If you e-mail your senator(s), you may either copy the following message or write your own:
I'm writing to thank you for your resolute stance against Senate Bill 751: The Maryland Stem Cell Research Act.
As you know, the proposed bill both overstated the "immense promise for developing medical therapies …" and grossly understated the "significant ethical and policy concerns" that it raised. Some of these grave implications were highlighted in the March 31 letter sent to you from members of the President's Council on Bioethics.
Please know that I am grateful for your efforts to protect innocent human life and support the common good. Clearly, the common good can never be upheld if the human being is viewed as an object to be manufactured for experimentation, technological manipulation and systematic destruction. You can count on my support and my prayers.
The following Delegates voted against House Bill 1183:
Anderson, Aumann, Bartlett, Bates, Boschert, Boteler, Boutin, Burns, Cluster, Conroy, Costa, Donoghue, Dwyer, Eckardt, Edwards, Elliott, Elmore, Frank, Gilleland, Glassman, Haddaway, Healey, Hogan, Impallaria, Jennings, Kach, Kelley, Kelly_K, Krebs, Leopold, Mayer, McComas, McConkey, McDonough, McKee, McMillan, Miller, Minnick, Myers, O'Donnell, Parrott, Shank, Shewell, Smigiel, Sophocleus, Sossi, Stocksdale, Stull, Taylor, Trueschler, Walkup, Weldon, Wood
Click here to e-mail all of the delegates
If you e-mail your delegate(s), you may either copy the following message or write your own:
I'm writing to thank you for voting against House Bill 1183: The Maryland Stem Cell Research Act.
By focusing on an unfounded promise of "a better understanding of debilitating diseases," the legislation presented itself as being inspired by a worthy motivation for the common good. However, the common good can never be upheld if the human being is viewed as an object to be manufactured for experimentation, technological manipulation and systematic destruction. Indeed, the bill both overstated the "immense promise for developing medical therapies …" and grossly understated the "significant ethical and policy concerns" that it raised.
Please know that I am grateful for your position. You can count on my support and my prayers.
PRAYER: Prayer of the Faithful
Almighty God, we give you thanks for those who are courageously fighting to preserve the rights and lives of the innocent. Lord, we ask you to protect and strengthen our pro-life legislators, and enlighten the hearts and minds of all of our elected officials to the truth about the gift of human life. We pray also for all those who are suffering from debilitating diseases. May we live in communion with them, and serve to heal and alleviate their suffering by promoting effective and ethical treatments that uphold the dignity of human person. Lord, please help us to work tirelessly to protect innocent human life by softening hearts and helping others to recognize the sacredness of life when it is most vulnerable. Help us always to be like the Good Samaritan in our daily efforts to do your will. All praise and glory to you. Amen
HOW CAN I SUPPORT THE WORK OF PRO-LIFE MARYLAND?
· Click here to bless us with a donation.
· If you can volunteer your time and talents. Internships are available.
· Please pray for our work and for the protection of innocent human life.
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Anthony R. Souza, MTS
President & CEO
©Copyright 2005 Pro-Life Maryland, Inc. All rights reserved.