mr. speaker , i have never seen such a well-attended debate , which shows the importance of this issue ; and i rise today on behalf of my father who died of parkinson 's disease .  i also rise today on behalf of the millions of americans like me who have watched their loved ones battle the ravages of some dreaded disease .  i ask my colleagues , how many more lives must be ended or ravaged until our government gives researchers the wherewithal to simply do their jobs ?  although there are no guarantees , many scientists have told me that embryonic stem cell research offers the best and only hope to discover a cure for many , many dreaded diseases .  embryonic research offers scientists the opportunity to extend life and the quality of life for future generations of americans .  as we are debating , other countries , other states , other people are moving forward with research with all speed .  we should pass the degette/castle bill .  life is too precious to wait .  mr. speaker , i rise today in support of h.r. 810 , the stem cell research enhancement act of 2005 .  as a founder and co-chair of the congressional working group on parkinson 's disease , i support this legislation that will expand the number of stem cell lines that are available for federally funded research .  i believe this bill will reopen the doors to scientific inquiry , allowing us to be able , once again , to utilize embryonic stem cells while adhering to strict ethical guidelines .  i am and continue to be an opponent of human cloning .  however , i recognize that we must move forward with ethical research that could lead to new drug therapies .  we owe this to those suffering from parkinson 's disease , heart disease , stroke , diabetes , and lou gehrig 's disease .  and we owe this to scientists who are eager to explore new frontiers of science and medicine , but who are restrained by federal restrictions .  mr. speaker , i have met with doctors , scientists , and researchers in my district 's leading medical institutions who warn of a `` brain drain '' as their best and brightest relocate to places where funding for embryonic stem cell research is not restricted .  i have spoken with lawmakers in the state of new york , who have garnered $ 1 billion in embryonic stem cell research funding , but without federal funding , stem cell research will move forward without crucial oversight and guidelines .  i have been persuaded by directors at the national institutes of health who have spoken out against the white house policy on stem cells .  and i have been moved by the pleas of my constituents who are eager to find cures for suffering loved ones .  mr. speaker , this is a mandate .  in 2003 , over 900 , 000 americans died of heart disease and more than 550 , 000 succumbed to cancer .  i am sure that many in this chamber have seen friends suffer through the misery of cancer and the indignities of chemotherapy .  who among us has not had a parent or grandparent look at us with vacant eyes because alzheimer 's has stolen their memory away from them ?  too many of us have watched as our children with juvenile diabetes hold back tears as they give themselves insulin injections each day .  mr. speaker , it does not have to be this way .  healing our children , family , and friends is a bipartisan issue .  in fact , it is a moral imperative .  