14 News, The Tri-State's News and Weather Leader-Excerpts From President Bush's Speech On Bioethics

Excerpts From President Bush's Speech On Bioethics

The families here today have either adopted or given up for adoption frozen embryos that remained after fertility treatments. Rather than discard these embryos created during in vitro fertilization, or turn them over for research that destroys them, these families have chosen a life-affirming alternative.

Twenty-one children here today found a chance for life with loving parents. I believe America must pursue the tremendous possibilities of science, and I believe we can do so while still fostering and encouraging respect for human life in all its stages.

In the complex debate over embryonic stem cell research, we must remember that real human lives are involved -- both the lives of those with diseases that might find cures from this research, and the lives of the embryos that will be destroyed in the process.

The children here today are reminders that every human life is a precious gift of matchless value. Research on stem cells derived from human embryos may offer great promise, but the way those cells are derived today destroys the embryo.

I share the hope of millions of Americans who desperately want to find treatments and cures for terrible diseases such as juvenile diabetes and Parkinson's disease. That is why my administration completing -- completed the doubling of the NIH budget to $29 billion a year, to encourage research.

I also made available for the first time federal funds for embryonic stem cell research in order to explore the potential of these cells. The children here today remind us that there is no such thing as a spare embryo. Every embryo is unique and genetically complete, like every other human being. And each of us started out our life this way.

These lives are not raw material to be exploited, but gifts.

And I commend each of the families here today for accepting the gift of these children and offering them the gift of your love.