Appeals Court Sets Hearing on Federal Funds for Stem-Cell Research

A federal appeals court has scheduled oral arguments for September 24 on whether it should keep blocking an injunction, issued on August 23 by a federal judge, Royce C. Lamberth, that temporarily prevents the government from financing embryonic-stem-cell research. The court announced its plans this morning as Senate Democrats used an Appropriations subcommittee hearing to advance legislation that would eliminate any legal confusion about congressional support for embryonic-stem-cell research. The process of drafting such specific legislative language, however, is proving “difficult and complex,” and probably won’t be finished before Congress adjourns its current session at the end of this year, said Anthony J. Mazzaschi, senior director for scientific affairs at the Association of American Medical Colleges.