Instead support treatments and research that everybody can support.

The Patients First Act will allow us to advance scientific development and, at the same time, protect life. The name "Patients First" reflects Congress's concern for patients and for curing patients. This bill would allow us to focus on the bipartisan goal of finding cures and healing patients.

Much progress has been made in adult stem cell research. Adult stem cells can be derived from human skin cells, wisdom teeth, and umbilical cord blood. Adult stem cells have been used to successfully treat patients who had suffered from Type 1 Diabetes, Leukemia and other forms of cancer, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's, and heart diseases -- all while not destroying human embryos.

Human embryos are human beings and are therefore persons, entitled to all the protections of persons. Good ends don't justify bad means. We can continue to advance the important work of stem cell research while being determined to do so ethically.

Please help bridge the political divide, and encourage the use of noncontroversial stem cells. Direct the National Institutes of Health to make ethical stem-cell research a top priority. Support the Patients First Act.

Thank you for your consideration of my position on this important issue.

I look forward to receiving a reply with your views on this.

Sincerely,