Current Advocacy Campaigns

U.S. HOUSE PASSES HISTORIC STEM CELL LEGISLATION

THANK YOU JDRF ADVOCATES

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

The JDRF Government Relations team is pleased to announce an historic step forward in advancing the field of stem cell research - passage of H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005.

Early this evening, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 238 to 194 in favor of expanding the current federal policy on embryonic stem cell research. We will be sending you another email tomorrow with a chart showing how your Representative voted and instructions for how to thank those who supported the bill.

A majority of Representatives has now joined a majority of the American public, an overwhelming majority of scientists and researchers, and more than 200 of the nation's top patient advocacy and medical research organizations in supporting H.R. 810.

Thank you to JDRF advocates across the country who have worked so tirelessly since H.R. 810 was introduced last June to urge their Members of Congress to support this important bill. In the weeks and days before the vote, we implemented a targeted campaign to reach out to House members, and the results of this campaign are clear. We received feedback that Members' offices were flooded with calls, emails, and faxes. During debate on the House floor, Members spoke of JDRF Children's Congress delegates, and juvenile diabetes was one of the diseases most often discussed. In addition, a JDRF advocate from Maryland, Svati Narula, kicked off the events earlier today by speaking of her life with diabetes at a Capitol Hill press conference.

Thank you once again for all the calls and visits made, and letters and emails sent in support of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005. Your hard work and dedication has once again resulted in a giant
leap forward in our mission of finding a cure for juvenile diabetes through the support of research.

To view the JDRF press release on the passage of this legislation, please visit www.jdrf.org/HR810.

Keep your energy and enthusiasm going as the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 moves next to the U.S. Senate!! Stay tuned to the JDRF website and your email inbox for further updates on this important legislation!

For more information, please contact the Dallas JDRF office at (214)373-9808 or email us at info@jdrfDallas.org.