mr. speaker , we need to remember that embryonic stem cell research is legal . 
in the absence of the federal government , the states are already taking the lead . 
california is at the forefront of establishing a robust embryonic stem cell research program . 
new jersey has followed suit , and seven other states are in the process of doing so . 
we do not want our stem cell research policies left to the vagaries of state electoral politics . 
the federal government in general , and nih in particular , must be involved . 
the less nih is involved with its time-tested methods and procedures , the less we are assured of good ethical guidelines and scientific methods will be followed . 
instead , we will have more and more individual states attempting to set up their own regulatory schemes , something they may or may not be equipped to do . 
opponents argue that it is the product of a utilitarian world view , that somehow this is a zero-sum game , if the members will , in which life is taken in order to give life . 
i think the strictures that are established by h.r. 810 negate that argument . 
under this bill , federal research will proceed using those embryos not used in fertility clinics , embryos voluntarily given that would otherwise be destroyed , that is , embryos that held the promise of life but are certain not to fulfill that promise . 
what we are doing is extending the potential life where otherwise there would be none . 
i urge passage of h.r. 810 . 
