Contact: Dawn Behnke, Illinois Federation for Right to Life Lobbyist, 618-465-7655

ALTON, Ill., Jan. 11 /Christian Newswire/ -- H.R. 3 (The EMBRYONIC Stem Cell Research Funding Bill) was passed today in the House of Representatives by a vote of 253-174 but not with enough support to override a veto by President Bush.

The use of human embryos for their stem cells is unethical and crosses a moral line.

Embryonic stem cells have yet to cure one person – yet adult stem cells have had 1229 clinical trials including 614 that are currently recruiting patients. Now with the discovery stem cells in amniotic fluid there is NO reason for EMBRYONIC stem cell research.

In order to claim a cause to save lives, you first must save lives in the beginning of life. We must protect life at every stage of life, including embryos.  "It is not necessary to sacrifice the life of embryos to obtain cells that could become embryonic stem cell lines," said Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md). "It is wrong to use federal taxpayer dollars for research which offends the morals and ethics of millions of Americans."

This bill will now go to the U.S. Senate for discussion and vote.

The IFRL is the largest grassroots pro-life organization in Illinois. A non-profit organization, that serves as the state coordinating body for local pro-life chapters representing thousands of Illinois citizens working to restore respect for all human life in our society.