The National Institutes of Health (NIH) officially rescinded the ban on using fetal tissues in research on Friday, reversing a Trump-era policy instituted almost two years ago.
President Biden
Joe BidenUkrainian state border service says troops attacked from Belarus Ukrainian minister lays out steps he wants international community to take against Russia Menendez: Need to expel Kremlin from international community is in 'sharp focus' MORE’s NIH released a notice saying that the agency was overturning the Trump administration’s policy that required all applicants for NIH grants involving fetal tissue from elective abortions to be reviewed by an ethics board.
The notice also said the Department of Health and Human Services and NIH will no longer assemble an NIH Human Fetal Fetal Tissue Research Ethics Advisory Board.
“NIH reminds the community of expectations to obtain informed consent from the donor for any NIH-funded research using human fetal tissue … and of continued obligations to conduct such research only in accord with any applicable federal, state, or local laws and regulations, including prohibitions on the payment of valuable consideration for such tissue,” the notice reads.
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra
Xavier BecerraThe driving force behind Medicare Part B's price increase was blunted—the price hike should be, too Texas sues Biden administration over transportation mask mandate Rubio holding up funding bill over crack pipes MORE hinted at an announcement on the NIH’s fetal tissue policy was upcoming during a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on Thursday.
Later in the hearing, Rep. Ben Cline
Benjamin (Ben) Lee ClineUS-China competitiveness bill sparks battle over e-commerce Romney tests positive for coronavirus The Hill's Morning Report - Biden to make voting rights play in Atlanta MORE (R-Va.) said, “I hope you're going to continue the Trump administration policy and that's going to be your announcement tomorrow.”
Reps. Suzan DelBene
Suzan Kay DelBeneAmerican competitiveness legislation is the key to tackling today's economic challenges, creating tomorrow's opportunities Democrats look to scale back Biden bill to get it passed Democrats face tough choices on Biden plan after Manchin setback MORE (D-Wash.), Mark Pocan
Mark William PocanThe America COMPETES Act will help businesses and workers make it in America Democrats livid over GOP's COVID-19 attacks on Biden With Build Back Better, Dems aim to correct messaging missteps MORE (D-Wis.), and Jan Schakowsky
Janice (Jan) Danoff SchakowskyGlobal Health, Empowerment, and Rights Act will permanently end to harmful global gag rule Energy & Environment — Biden confident in separate climate funds US not considering gas export ban, official says MORE (D-Ill.), who led a group of 26 Democratic House members calling for an end to the restriction on research involving fetal tissue, praised Friday’s announcement.
“We applaud the Biden administration and Secretary Xavier Becerra for prioritizing science and reversing the Trump administration’s arbitrary barriers to both extramural and intramural researchers on the use of fetal tissue in scientific research,” the lawmakers said.
“During a time when our country necessitates recovery that prioritizes science over politics, this is an integral step towards protecting the advancements of our scientific community,” they added.
In the lawmakers’ letter to Becerra earlier this week, they cited that fetal tissue has been used in research to treat and study hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, Zika, HIV, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, and COVID-19. Scientists also used fetal tissue in developing the first polio and measles vaccines.
Tom McClusky, president of March for Life Action, issued a statement calling it "very disappointing" that the administration has decided to "fund research that requires aborted fetal tissue and organs."
"This type of experimental research is a gross violation of human dignity and is not where the majority of Americans want their tax dollars being spent," McClusky said. "The government has no business creating a marketplace for aborted baby body parts.”
In 2018, anti-abortion organizations mounted pressure on then-President Trump
Donald TrumpJudge strikes down part of Biden surprise billing rules in win for doctors Overnight Defense & National Security — More Western pressure as Russia moves in Jan. 6 defendant who said 'this is war' on social media sentenced to 45 days in jail MORE to stop permitting federal funding to go to research projects using fetal tissue from elective abortions.
Trump revealed his policy in June 2019, prompting the Democratic-led House to vote to block the ban that same month. But with the Republican-majority Senate, that vote did not go anywhere.
—Updated 4:17 p.m.
