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Proud of GI Benefits Bill and Ethical Stem Cell Research, but Disappointed in Energy Comments
Washington, Jan 28 -
Congressman Roscoe Bartlett recorded this statement in reaction to the 2008 State of the Union Address (SOTU) by President George W. Bush. An mp3 file is available upon request.
“I was particularly pleased with two parts of the President’s speech because they covered issues that I’ve been working on for quite some time. The first was the Montgomery-Bartlett GI bill*. This would permit our service people to give their [unused] education benefit to their spouse or their children. I think we lose a lot of our mid career officers because they can not make enough money to send their kids to college. They need to quit to make additional money. This would avoid that and I think that in the long run it would save money.
“The second thing that I was really pleased with were the comments that he made about ethical embryonic stem cell research. For six years, I’ve been working with the White House, with the National Institutes of Health and with the right to life community.** I’m really pleased that the President highlighted the breakthroughs that have been made in this area.
“The part of the speech that I was somewhat disappointed with was the energy part of the speech. I think that he failed to indicate the enormity of the problem and the programs that he proposed I think come far short of meeting the challenge that we need to meet.”
*The Bartlett Montgomery GI Bill, H.R. 81, would encourage Active Duty and Reserve servicemembers to re-enlist, support military families and provide more realistic rates of educational costs for higher learning by permitting servicemembers to transfer unused GI education benefits to their spouses or children. This is a reintroduction of H.R. 3625 from the 109th Congress. Currently, only 20% of GI benefits are utilized.
Provisions of the Bartlett-Montgomery GI Bill, H.R. 81:
1) Allows Servicemembers to transfer any unused portion of their GI benefits to their dependent/s
2) If a Servicemember elects for their dependent to receive benefit, it will extend the benefit entitlement period from 10 to 15 years.
3) Requires the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to apply the Annual Adjustment to rates of educational assistance based on average cost of higher learning.
4) Provides benefits for Guard and Reserve with 2 years cumulative not consecutive service in a five year period.
On Thursday, March 22, 2007, Congressman Roscoe Bartlett submitted a Statement for the Record in support of H.R. 81 at a hearing by the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs concerning Education benefits for members of the National Guard and Reserves.
** Congressman Bartlett wrote an article published last week in The Hill newspaper http://thehill.com/ and reported on scientific advances, including one promoted by the President in this SOTU, that have ended the argument that the life of human embryos must be sacrificed to advance stem cell research. Congressman Bartlett’s bill, H.R. 322, to promote non-destructive pluripotent stem cell research is currently osponsored by 131 House members.
H.R. 322 is similar to an earlier bill introduced by Congressman Bartlett that almost became law in 2006. The identical Senate companion bill, S. 2754 the “Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act” was approved by a vote of 100-0 in the Senate during the 109th Congress. S. 2754 was considered by the House under the suspension calendar procedure. With an overwhelming majority, but just shy of the required 2/3 majority, it failed by a vote of 273-154 due to opposition by proponents of federal funding for destructive embryonic stem cell research. Since the legislation was not passed by the House, President Bush issued an Executive Order to promote research into alternative sources of pluripotent stem cells.
For more information about the November 2007 breakthrough the President mentioned in this SOTU of reprogramming adult skin cells to act like embryonic stem cells, you can link to a factsheet available from the Do No Harm Coalition. Two New York Times articles also discuss this new research: “Method Equalizes Stem Cell Debate” and “Scientists Bypass Need for Embryo to Get Stem Cells” announced by scientists in the United States and Japan. The American researcher was Dr. James Thompson who first produced human embryonic stem cell lines derived by destroying embryos in 1998. Dr. Thompson recently acknowledged the serious concerns and legitimate ethical objections to destructive embryonic stem cell research. Dr. Thompson still supports destructive embryonic stem cell research but expressed “relief” that this new research may bring resolution to the ethical issues surrounding research that requires the destruction of human life. In an article in the International Herald Tribune Thomson said, “Isn't it great to start a field and then to end it."
2008 State of the Union Address Excerpts
About Transferring Unused GI Bill Benefits to Military Family Members
Our military families also sacrifice for America. They endure sleepless nights and the daily struggle of providing for children while a loved one is serving far from home. We have a responsibility to provide for them. So I ask you to join me in expanding their access to childcare, creating new hiring preferences for military spouses across the Federal Government, and allowing our troops to transfer their unused education benefits to their spouses or children. Our military families serve our Nation, they inspire our Nation, and tonight our Nation honors them.
About Stem Cell Research
On matters of science and life, we must trust in the innovative spirit of medical researchers and empower them to discover new treatments while respecting moral boundaries. In November, we witnessed a landmark achievement when scientists discovered a way to reprogram adult skin cells to act like embryonic stem cells. This breakthrough has the potential to move us beyond the divisive debates of the past by extending the frontiers of medicine without the destruction of human life. So we are expanding funding for this type of ethical medical research. And as we explore promising avenues of research, we must also ensure that all life is treated with the dignity it deserves. So I call on the Congress to pass legislation that bans unethical practices such as the buying, selling, patenting, or cloning of human life.
About Energy
To build a future of energy security, we must trust in the creative genius of American researchers and entrepreneurs and empower them to pioneer a new generation of clean energy technology. Our security, our prosperity, and our environment all require reducing our dependence on oil.
Last year, I asked you to pass legislation to reduce oil consumption over the next decade, and you responded. Together we should take the next steps: Let us fund new technologies that can generate coal power while capturing carbon emissions. Let us increase the use of renewable power and emissions-free nuclear power. Let us continue investing in advanced battery technology and renewable fuels to power the cars and trucks of the future. Let us create a new international clean technology fund, which will help developing nations like India and China make greater use of clean energy sources. And let us complete an international agreement that has the potential to slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases. This agreement will be effective only if it includes commitments by every major economy and gives none a free ride. The United States is committed to strengthening our energy security and confronting global climate change. And the best way to meet these goals is for America to continue leading the way toward the development of cleaner and more efficient technology.
To keep America competitive into the future, we must trust in the skill of our scientists and engineers and empower them to pursue the breakthroughs of tomorrow. Last year, the Congress passed legislation supporting the American Competitiveness Initiative, but never followed through with the funding. This funding is essential to keeping our scientific edge. So I ask the Congress to double Federal support for critical basic research in the physical sciences and ensure America remains the most dynamic nation on earth.
A copy of the Administration’s energy initiatives from the State of the Union 2008 is at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/stateoftheunion/2008/initiatives/energy.html
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