Washington, DC –  U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) joined President Obama at the White House today for the signing of an executive order lifting the ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

“Potentially no decision President Obama makes will have a more profound impact on the long-term health and well-being of more Americans than the reversal of President Bush’s ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Millions of Americans are suffering from chronic diseases and we have a moral responsibility to help them. Federal funding of new stem cell lines and support for our nation’s scientists who are developing treatments for medical conditions affecting more than 100 million Americans is essential — and long overdue. The last few years have been a tragedy of wasted time when politics was put ahead of science. I applaud President Obama for recognizing the urgent need to restart domestic research that will give hope to so many and for his actions to protect scientific research from the taint of politics.

 “Maryland is home to some of the world’s leading medical research institutions, such as NIH and Johns Hopkins University.  I am proud of the embryonic research doctors in Maryland who are bringing us closer than ever to unlocking the mysteries of so many debilitating diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Juvenile Diabetes.  These world-renowned doctors once again will know they are backed by the resources and the confidence of the federal government to move forward with their research here in the United States rather than overseas. America will reclaim its position as the world leader in medical research.”