Next week the U.S. Senate will debate and vote on a bill to expand stem cell research. This research has been hampered by a very narrow view, fostered mainly by a small far-right segment of the population who wish to 'protect human life.' These people worry that the research would use embryo cells. What they fail to say is that tens of thousands of these cells now are kept in a frozen state and are periodically discarded. Far better that they be put to the use of reducing suffering and curing disease. There is an excellent article in today's WASHINGTON POST if you wish to read more about the promise, the science, and the politics of the issue. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/14/AR2006071401380.html I URGE YOU TO WRITE OR CALL YOUR U.S. SENATORS TO LET THEM KNOW THIS BILL WILL AFFECT DIRECTLY MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILY.