Supporters of expanded Federal funding for human embryonic stem cells (hESC) are voicing their disappointment over President Bush's decision yesterday (July 19) to veto a controversial bill (HR 810) that would have extended Federal research funding to newly derived hESCs. He also signed into law a less-contentious bill (S 3504) that prohibits trafficking human fetal tissue "gestated for research purposes." Both bills had passed the Senate one day earlier (July 18).The stem cell expansion bill "would support the taking of innocent human life in the hope of finding medical benefits for others," Bush said in a speech from the White House, surrounded by 18 children "adopted" as surplus embryos created by in vitro fertilization. "It crosses a moral boundary that our decent society needs to respect, so I vetoed it," Bush said.The House of Representatives, where the expansion bill originated, sought to over-ride the President's veto yesterday, but...

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