HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fetal Tissue Research

The House approved an amendment to advance fetal tissue research to combat diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. The amendment was added to a National Institutes of Health funding bill that already contained language helping President Clinton lift a longtime ban on the research. It removed obstacles placed by anti-abortion lawmakers in the path of government-sponsored research involving fetal tissue transplantation.

Supporter Dan Glickman (D-Kan.) said, “in the area of diabetes, we probably will have a cure sooner rather than later because of research using fetal tissue.”

Opponent Henry J. Hyde (R-Ill.) said, “I am all for fetal research” but only if done “in an ethical way” on fetuses resulting from involuntary abortion.

The vote was 253 to 173. A yes vote was to advance federally sponsored fetal tissue research.

How They Voted Rep. Beilenson (D): YEA Rep. Dixon (D): YEA Rep. Harman (D): YEA Rep. Waxman (D): YEA

Health Budget Freeze Rejected

The House rejected an amendment to freeze the $6.9-billion National Institutes of Health fiscal 1994 budget (above) at the previous year’s level. The measure sought to save at least $1.7 billion.

Sponsor Doug Bereuter (R-Neb.) said the bill “is not just about health research legislation, it is a spending issue.” Opponent Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles) said “support for health research is a worthy legacy for the 103rd Congress. NIH is a national treasure.”

The vote was 193 to 234. A yes vote was to freeze the new NIH budget at 1993 levels.

How They Voted Rep. Beilenson (D): NAY Rep. Dixon (D): NAY Rep. Harman (D): NAY Rep. Waxman (D): NAY

AIDS and Immigrants

The House endorsed a ban on the immigration of HIV-infected persons to the United States. The non-binding vote urged acceptance of Senate-passed language writing the ban into the National Institutes of Health budget (above).

Supporter Gerald B. H. Solomon (R-N.Y.) said allowing bearers of the AIDS virus into the United States would “place healthy American citizens at higher risk (and) strain existing resources that already are overtaxed.”

Opponent Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) said whether to impose the ban is “a scientific decision for the health profession to make, not a political decision for Congress.”

The vote was 356 for and 58 against. A yes vote was to ban HIV-infected immigrants from the United States.

How They Voted Rep. Beilenson (D): YEA Rep. Dixon (D): NAY Rep. Harman (D): YEA Rep. Waxman (D): YEA Where to Reach Them

Anthony C. Beilenson, 24th District

21031 Ventura Blvd., Suite 1010, Woodland Hills 91364 (818) 999-1990

Julian C. Dixon, 32nd District

5100 W. Goldleaf Circle, Suite 208, Los Angeles 90056 (213) 678-5424

Jane Harman, 36th District

5200 W. Century Blvd., Suite 960, Los Angeles 90045 (310) 348-8220

Henry A. Waxman, 29th District

8425 W. 3rd St., Suite 400, Los Angeles 90048 (213) 651-1040

Source: Roll Call Report Syndicate