Ed. Note:  The following is a press release from Results For America.

Feb. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- More than three out of five Americans
(63 percent) now back embryonic stem cell research, and even higher levels of
support exist for bipartisan federal legislation to promote more such research
(70 percent) and the growing number of state-level initiatives to encourage
stem cell work (76 percent do or might support such measures), according to a
new survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) on behalf of the
Results for America (RFA) project of the nonprofit and nonpartisan Civil
Society Institute.
    On the eve of the introduction of a bill in Congress by Rep. Michael
Castle, R-DE, and Rep. Diana DeGette, D-CO, to expand federal stem cell
research, the RFA survey shows that a growing number of Americans favor going
beyond President Bush's strict limits on stem cell research for medical
research purposes.  The level of public support for wider federal stem cell
research now is slightly higher than it was after the death last spring of
former President Ronald Reagan, whose widow, Nancy Reagan, called for the
elimination of barriers to the exploration of stem cells for possible medical
treatments.
    Another factor identified by the survey as driving the public's support
for stem cell research:  The recent announcement that most or all of the stem
cell lines approved for federal research purposes have been compromised, and
thereby rendered useless for the pursuit of possible medical cures.
    Civil Society Institute President Pam Solo said: "These findings clearly
show that stem cell research is not an issue that is going to go away.  If
anything, the level of public backing is rising, edging up from the high-water
mark of support brought about by the extensive public discussion about stem
cell research in the wake of the passing of former President Ronald Reagan.
The growing number of state-level ballot initiatives and legislative pushes
means that federal lawmakers have two choices:  either get out front and lead
on this issue or be overtaken by all of the clamoring for stem cell research
that is bubbling up from the grassroots level."
    ORC Senior Project Manager Graham Hueber said:  "The very high level of
support for the proposed bipartisan federal legislation on stem cell research
is quite striking in these findings.   Respondents in higher income households
(77 percent) and those with a college degree (76 percent) are significantly
more likely to support the bill than those with lower levels of education or
income.  And while liberals are very much in support of the legislation (86
percent), so, too, are most moderates (80 percent) and more than half of
conservatives.  What we see in these numbers is that the bipartisan approach
to addressing the stem cell issue takes what is already a strong overall level
of support and makes it even stronger."
    In August 2001, the Bush administration imposed a major new restriction on
federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.  The restriction meant that
research on stem cell lines created before August 2001 could receive funding,
but prohibited support for research on stem cell lines developed after that
date.

    KEY SURVEY FINDINGS

     * Support for embryonic stem cell research continues to grow, with 63
     percent of American adults now supporting it and 28 percent in opposition
     -- and only 17 percent terming themselves "strongly opposed."  These
     unaided findings compare favorably with the June 2004 RFA survey in the
     wake of the death of President Ronald Reagan, when stem cell research
     support climbed to 60 percent-26 percent.  The same question posed in
     2001 found support at 48 percent-43 percent.  When an explanation is
     provided of embryonic stem cell research, the support level rises to 72
     percent-25 percent, including 55 percent of conservatives.  This was
     roughly unchanged from the June 2004 survey, when the margin was 72
     percent-23 percent.

     * Amidst reports that the stem cell lines approved by President Bush for
     research purposes have been contaminated and rendered unusable, 69
     percent support "expanding President Bush's policy in this area to allow
     federal funding for research on stem cells developed from excess embryos
     frozen in fertility clinics and donated by the parents."  This level of
     support includes 56 percent of conservatives, with 80 percent of
     moderates and 84 percent of liberals.

     * Support for the bipartisan stem cell research expected to be introduced
     by Rep. Michael Castle, R-DE, and Rep. Diana DeGette, D-CO, is strong at
     70 percent-26 percent, including 53 percent of conservatives, 80 percent
     of moderates and 86 percent of liberals.  The bill would expand federal
     funding for research on stem cells that are developed from embryos frozen
     in fertility clinics and which otherwise would be discarded.

     * More than three out of four (76 percent) do or might support state-
     level stem cell initiatives, with 21 percent in opposition.  Of the first
     number, 58 percent said "yes" and 18 percent indicated they might support
     such state-level pushes.

     * In general, 72 percent support expanded federal government support for
     medical research, including stem cell research.

     * Over half (54 percent) are or might be concerned about a stem cell
     "brain drain" with U.S. researchers going overseas, with 42 percent not
     being concerned. Of the first number, 38 percent indicated they are
     concerned and 16 percent indicated they might be concerned.

    Full survey findings are available online at
http://www.resultsforamerica.org/.

    METHODOLOGY
    Results For America commissioned this ORC Caravan survey to gain a current
understanding of the views of Americans on stem cell research.  Results are
based on telephone interviews conducted among a sample of 1,022 adults (510
men and 512 women) aged 18 and over living in private households in the
continental United States.  Interviewing was completed during the period of
February 3-6, 2005.  The margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level is
plus or minus three percentage points for the sample of 1,022 adults.  Smaller
sub-groups will have larger error margins.  Some questions were repeated from
an earlier survey.  Those questions were asked in a RFA survey of 1,017 adults
(509 men and 508 women) during the period of June 10-13, 2004.  That survey
was conducted after the death of former President Ronald Reagan.

    ABOUT RESULTS FOR AMERICA
    Results for America (http://www.resultsforamerica.org/) is a project of the
Civil Society Institute, which is based in Newton, Massachusetts.  The mission
of CSI is to serve as a catalyst for change by creating problem-solving
interactions among people, and between communities, government and business,
that can help to improve society.  You may visit Civil Society Institute on
the Web at http://www.civilsocietyinstitute.org/.  RFA seeks to shape and tap
the tremendous amount of community-level knowledge, experience and innovative
action that could solve America's problems in four key areas, including:
"Healthy Families, Healthy Economy, Healthy America."  It also supports a
commitment to biomedical technologies and breakthrough treatments and cures
for life-threatening illnesses that affect millions of us.


 

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