By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – The U.S. House voted Tuesday afternoon to remove restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
That was good news to Washington University Chancellor Mark Wrighton.
He says Missouri residents deserve the promise that stem cell research offers.
"We hope that this research will continue and that it will flourish in our region to bring benefits to the people we serve," Wrighton said.
President Bush has vowed to veto the legislation, saying it crosses "a critical ethical line."
Tuesday's vote of 238-to-194 is not enough to override a veto.
But Chancellor Wrighton says other countries, such as South Korea, are quickly becoming competitive in the field.
"The United States has a long and strong tradition of being a leader in biomedical research, and I believe the legislation that has been passed today would encourage the strengthening of the U.S. position in this area," he said.
Wrighton says while private funding in the stem cell field is important, he says the federal government has a responsibility to encourage further research.
How Missouri Congressmen voted:
YES
Russ Carnahan (D-St. Louis)
Lacy Clay (D-St. Louis)
Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City)
Ike Skelton (D-Lexington)
JoAnn Emerson (R-Cape Girardeau)
NO
Todd Akin (R-St. Louis County)
Roy Blunt (R-Springfield)
Sam Graves (R-Tarkio)
Kenny Hulshof (R-Columbia)
Voting yes were 187 Democrats, 50 Republicans and one Independent. Voting no were 14 Democrats, 180 Republicans and no Independents.