THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________
For Immediate Release March 9, 2009
EXECUTIVE ORDER
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REMOVING BARRIERS TO RESPONSIBLE SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN STEM CELLS
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as
follows:
Section 1. Policy. Research involving human embryonic stem cells and
human non-embryonic stem cells has the potential to lead to better
understanding and treatment of many disabling diseases and conditions.
Advances over the past decade in this promising scientific field have
been encouraging, leading to broad agreement in the scientific
community that the research should be supported by Federal funds.
For the past 8 years, the authority of the Department of Health and
Human Services, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to
fund and conduct human embryonic stem cell research has been limited by
Presidential actions. The purpose of this order is to remove these
limitations on scientific inquiry, to expand NIH support for the
exploration of human stem cell research, and in so doing to enhance the
contribution of America's scientists to important new discoveries and
new therapies for the benefit of humankind.
Sec. 2. Research. The Secretary of Health and Human Services
(Secretary), through the Director of NIH, may support and conduct
responsible, scientifically worthy human stem cell research, including
human embryonic stem cell research, to the extent permitted by law.
Sec. 3. Guidance. Within 120 days from the date of this order, the
Secretary, through the Director of NIH, shall review existing NIH
guidance and other widely recognized guidelines on human stem cell
research, including provisions establishing appropriate safeguards, and
issue new NIH guidance on such research that is consistent with this
order. The Secretary, through NIH, shall review and update such
guidance periodically, as appropriate.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) This order shall be implemented
consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(c) This order is not intended to, and
does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity, by any party against the United
States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers,
employees, or agents, or any other person.
Sec. 5. Revocations. (a) The Presidential statement of August 9,
2001, limiting Federal funding for research involving human embryonic
stem cells, shall have no further effect as a statement of governmental
policy.
(b) Executive Order 13435 of June 20, 2007, which supplements the
August 9, 2001, statement on human embryonic stem cell research, is
revoked.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 9, 2009.
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