Dickey-Wicker Amendment

The challenge to Dikey-Wicker could come from two directions, The National Institute of Health (NIH) and Congress. The Dickey-Wicker Amendment has been a part of Health & Human Services HHS spending legislation since 1996. This measure prohibits Federal funds from being used for the creation of human embryos for research, as well as for experimentation in which the health or life of the embryo is threatened or destroyed.

Obama gave the issuing of the guidelines to NIH within 120 days on funding ESC Research. Congress is expected to pass legislation in support of Obama's stem-cell order, with the president's encouragement. But there may be a move to pass a bill which would strike the Dickey-Wicker Amendment. Representative Diana DeGette of Colorado (D) is the lead sponsor of legislation to turn Obama's executive order into law. She is promoting congressional action to rescind Dickey-Wicker. "Dickey-Wicker is 13 yrs. old now, and I think we need to review these policies" she said.

The battle continues.

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