“I vowed in July to continue the fight for stem cell research despite President Bush’s first veto,” said Congressman Langevin. “Today marks the beginning of my renewed fight on behalf of the millions of Americans who wait for cures for devastating diseases. I am proud of my colleagues in the Rhode Island House who are ready to move forward on the promise of stem cell research.”

The Task Force will study best practices in other states regarding stem cell research as well other public and private research practices. The group’s goal is to develop state legislation that will support and encourage stem cell research.

Since August 2001, when the Bush Administration enacted restrictive regulations that allow federal funding for research solely on those stem cell lines derived prior to August 2001, Langevin has been an outspoken advocate for expanding the federal government’s role and involvement in stem cell research.

In the last year alone he has:

Rep. Eileen Naughton from Warwick, Rep. Arthur Handy from Cranston and Rep. Raymond Sullivan from Coventry have agreed to spearhead the Task Force, which, over the next year will work with members of the biotechnology, medical and academic communities both here in Rhode Island and across the country.

“While I am proud of my colleagues here today who are willing to take meaningful steps towards advancing stem cells research, I must emphasize this is not the normal course of action for science policy in our nation,” said Langevin. “States cannot afford to sustain contributions at the level that the federally-funded National Institutes of Health could.” For example, while the state of California helped to fund groundbreaking work with spinal-cord-injured rats, a lack of additional funding has delayed this treatment from reaching clinical trials with humans.

Langevin still believes it would be far preferable to develop one national infrastructure and one national policy for stem cell research. Only NIH can provide the oversight needed to ensure that this research is done ethically. Without their leadership, stem cell research faces an uncertain future and a patchwork of policies - determined state by state.

“I remain optimistic that as a nation we will move a stem cell bill forward,” continued Langevin. “The longer federal legislation is delayed, the longer full potential of stem cells will be delayed. While the President has failed to act, the Rhode Island House has admirably decided to take up the stem cell fight and it makes me proud to offer my support to allow this lifesaving research to move forward.”