FASEB Washington Update - November 19, 2010
***SPECIAL EDITION***
2010 MID-TERM ELECTION ANALYSIS
New Faces Coming To Washington But Similar Challenges Remain
Although there will be a sea of new faces on Capitol Hill beginning in January, and the balance of power will shift in one chamber of the legislature, lawmakers will face fiscal and policy challenges similar to those that they have experienced over the last two years. The federal deficit is at a record level, our military is engaged in multiple conflicts abroad, demands for reduced spending are coming from both political parties, and high rates of unemployment across the country have left the public demanding that elected officials do whatever they can to create jobs. The biggest difference is that now both Democrats and Republicans will have to demonstrate that they can govern and are willing to make difficult decisions. > More Details >
The Department Of Justice Files Final Brief In Stem Cell Appeal
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed its final brief in its appeal of the preliminary injunction that had prohibited federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research (hESC). Filed on November 4, 2010, the document argues that plaintiffs James L. Sherley and Theresa Deisher, the adult stem cell researchers suing NIH, have demonstrated no likelihood of success on the merits of the case pending in the U.S. District Court for the D.C. Circuit. Sherley and Deisher had argued that awarding funds for hESC research violates the Dickey-Wicker amendment, a provision attached to the Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations bill that bars federal funding for research resulting in the destruction of human embryos. DOJ countered that the amendment does not prohibit NIH from funding work on embryonic stem cells once they have been derived, an interpretation NIH has held since 1999 and which has been ratified repeatedly by Congress. (Big Book of Business Games Series) > More Details >
FASEB’s Washington Update is brought to you bi-monthly by the FASEB Office of Public Affairs. We welcome your questions and comments – please contact Jennifer Zeitzer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 301-634-7650. For more information about how to get involved in research advocacy, visit: http://capwiz.com/faseb/home/