Hadassah		Marla Gilson, Director	      	      TElephone		Founded by
The Women’s	 	Washington Action Office	      202-363-4600		Henrietta Szold
Zionist			5100 Wisconsin Avenue, NW	      FAX			in 1912
Organization		Suite 250			      202-363-4651
Of America, Inc.		Washington, D.c.		      E-MAIL
			20016-4119			      WashingtonOffice@hadassah.org

March 14, 2005

The Honorable Mike Castle
United States House of Representatives
1233 Longworth House Office Building 
Washington DC, 20515

The Honorable Diana DeGette
United States House of Representatives 
1530 Longworth House Office Building 
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representatives Castle and DeGette: 

On behalf of the more than 300,000 members of Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, we are writing to express our support for H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005. 

Hadassah is the largest women's and the largest Jewish membership organization in the United States, with members in every congressional district. Our mission is to promote a prosperous and peaceful Israel, pursue social justice and advocate for the health, education and well being of American Jewish women and their families.

Hadassah believes that quality healthcare must include innovative medical and bio-technological research. Human embryonic stem cells hold the promise to treat fatal and disabling diseases that affect more than 100 million Americans – such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and many others. But under the current limited federal policy, researchers report that it is increasingly difficult to attract new scientists to this area of study, because scientists fear that funding restrictions will keep their research from coming to fruition.  By expanding the number of stem cells lines eligible for federal funding, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 allows critical scientific research to move ahead towards more understanding of fatal and disabling diseases and their cures.
 
Hadassah applauds your leadership in sponsoring this important legislation. If we can be of any assistance to you, please feel free to contact Marla Gilson, Director of Hadassah's Washington Action Office at (202) 363-4600. We look forward to working with you on this critical issue.

Sincerely, 

June Walker
National President