mr. speaker , we do not know yet , but the possibility is very real that stem cell research may be the greatest breakthrough in the history of science . 
there are deep and profound moral and philosophic issues surrounding the research , but our government should be very cautious about coming down on the wrong side of science , especially when the scientific endeavor is designed to lengthen and ennoble life . 
it has been suggested here today that no breakthrough therapies have yet been developed with stem cell research . 
this is simply not the case . 
using , for example , the microenvironment of human embryonic stem cells , dr . 
mary hendricks and her team of researchers at chicago 's memorial research center have developed a methodology to slow the aggressive properties of metastatic cancer cells . 
how in heaven 's name can we deny the promise of such research ? 
there is consensus at this time in this body and in the research community that scientists should not play god in attempting to clone human beings , but we are at a stage of human existence where there is a practical possibility that a blastocyst that would otherwise be thrown away as waste can , in a petri dish , be used to help solve these incredible diseases , from alzheimer 's to parkinson 's to diabetes to cancer . 
if one believes that life matters , the balance of judgment should be to carefully open the door , as this bill , led so beautifully by my good friends the gentleman from delaware ( mr. castle ) xz4000700 and the gentlewoman from colorado ( ms. degette ) xz4001010 , does . 
not to open the door is to put our heads in the sands and foreclose the prospect of a better life for many , many americans . 
