Congress May Try to Overturn Dickey-Wicker Amendment on Stem Cell Research

Earlier this week, a federal judge temporarily enjoined an Obama Executive Order which gave the green light to federal funding of unethical embryonic stem cell research, saying the Order violated the law under the Dickey-Wicker Amendment.  This injunction froze an estimated $70 millions slated for the research.   It is possible that the Obama Administration will appeal the ruling.

More ominous is this fall’s Congressional session.   Every year since 1996, Congress has enacted the Dickey-Wicker Amendment which prohibits the use of federal tax dollars for stem cell research that involves the killing of human embryos.   Now, following the court ruling, that Amendment is under attack.  It is possible that anti-life members of Congress will work to repeal the Dickey-Wicker Amendment either in September or in the lame duck session of Congress after the November 2 elections.

Working with National Right to Life, WRTL will fight vigorously to prevent retain the life-protecting language in Dickey-Wicker.   We hope you will join us in this fight.

Barbara Lyons