HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2010.12.09 - 10037Chairperson, we move the adoption of the foregoing Resolution.
Commissioner Marcia Gershenson
District #17
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Commissioner im Greirnel
District #11
Miscellaneous Resolution #10226 S= a
BY: Commissioners Tim Greimel, District #11, and Marcia Gershenson, District #17
RE: Board of Commissioners — Resolution in Support of Embryonic Stem Cell Research jc.,,,,, t sia4, -±t- 15°
TO: Oakland County Board of Commissioners
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Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS, embryonic stern cells are unique in their ability to differentiate into any kind of cell in the human
body, a characteristic not shared by adult stem cells;
WHEREAS, this unique characteristic of embryonic stern cells holds great promise to develop medically
beneficial therapies for spinal cord injuries, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, and other diseases;
WHEREAS, research regarding the potential therapeutic benefit of embryonic stem cells has substantially
increased in recent years; and
WHEREAS, the Food and Drug Administration has recently approved the first human clinical trials for the
transplantation of embryonic stem cells into paraplegics with recent spinal cord injuries; and
WHEREAS, in vitro fertilization generates hundreds of thousands of unused embryos, which will either be
destroyed or be kept frozen indefinitely; and
WHEREAS, such embryos will never develop into adult human beings, regardless of whether they are used
in embryonic stem cell research; and
WHEREAS, using such embryos for embryonic stem cell research may lead to medically beneficial therapies
for a wide variety of diseases and ultimately save human lives; and
WHEREAS, Oakland County has sought to attract life sciences research facilities to our county as part of our
Emerging Sectors Initiative and our Medical Main Street Initiative; and -
WHEREAS, federal Judge Royce Lemberth recently ruled that a 1996 federal law prohibits federally-funded
stern cell research, bringing to a halt dozens of promising medical research initiatives; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby supports
ethical embryonic stem cell research using embryonic stem cells that would otherwise be discarded and
welcomes ail ethical medical research facilities, including those engaged in ethical embryonic stem cell
research, to locate in Oakland County; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland Courty Board of Commissioners hereby encourages the
United States Congress to immediately pass a bill revoking the 1996 law that has been interpreted to prohibit
federally-funded stem cell research and encourages President Barack Obama to sign such a bill into law; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby opposes
reproductive human cloning, encourages the United States Congress to immediately ban reproductive human
cloning, and encourages President Barack °barna to sign such a ban into law; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners requests that the Oakland
County Clerk send copies of this resolution to all members of the United States Congress and to President
Barack Obama.
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Resolution #10226 September 1, 2010
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no objections.
Resolution #10226 December 9, 2010
Moved by Greimel supported by Schwartz to discharge the resolution from the General Government Committee.
AYES: Woodward, Zack, Coleman, Coulter, Gershenson, Greimel. Jackson, McGillivray, Nash, Schwartz. (10)
NAYS: Taub, Bullard, Douglas, Gingeli, Jacobsen, Long, Middleton, Potts, Runestad, Scott. (10)
A sufficient majority not having voted in favor, the resolution was not discharged.
Discussion followed.