Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today applauded the decision by President Obama to sign an executive order lifting restrictions on federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research.  Senator Feinstein attended this morning’s White House ceremony at which President Obama signed an executive order to lift the restrictions.

            Following is Senator Feinstein’s statement:

“This is wonderful news for millions of Americans and their families who have been waiting years in hope that stem cell research will eventually lead to cures – for children afflicted with juvenile diabetes, for grandfathers and grandmothers suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and our sisters, brothers and friends grappling daily with the challenges of living with Parkinson’s, cancer and spinal cord injuries.

I am especially pleased that California, which has funded hundreds of embryonic stem cell research projects, can finally receive federal funds to pursue these efforts.

I am convinced that this action today will lead directly to cures for catastrophic disease. It has been a long time coming, and I commend President Obama for taking this essential step.

However, we need to take this executive order one step further and pass legislation to prevent future administrations from reinstating any restrictions on stem cell research.”

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