For me, stem cell research is not only a public policy issue, but one that is profoundly personal, as well. It was a tremendous blow for my family when my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. It started small - she would forget a name or misplace her keys. Now, in the more advanced stages of the disease, it's simply heartbreaking for my sister, for my children and for me that she doesn't even recognize our faces.

We must do all we can to bring hope to the millions who suffer from debilitating and life-threatening diseases - and to those who love them. That is why I am proud to stand with and support our scientific and medical communities in their drive to realize the promise of stem cell research. Cures for Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, or juvenile diabetes could be just around the corner.

I'm proud to live in New Jersey - one of the first states to enact a law specifically permitting embryonic stem cell research. We simply cannot afford to let partisan politics stand in the way of medical progress. The stakes are just too high. We owe it to our parents, our children, and our grandchildren to unlock that door. Stem cell research represents one of the best hopes for finding new treatments and even cures.

President Bush's flawed policy limitation on "existing stem cell lines" is just plain wrong. So, when I entered the Senate, I proudly sponsored the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, which allows federal support of embryonic stem cell research regardless of the date on which they were derived from a human embryo.

In the House, I voted for both the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act and the Cord Blood Research Act. I also co-sponsored the Pancreatic Islet Cell Transplantation Act, which increases the supply of pancreatic islet cells for research, and provides for better coordination of both efforts and information.

I'm working hard to help researchers harness the ability of human embryonic stem cells. Sure, this research holds the promise of life-changing cures. But, this exciting field is also one of the most promising growth industries of the future. Investing in stem cell research creates jobs and puts people to work to end suffering and save lives.

My opponent in this race says he supports stem cell research. However, in the last year alone, he's voted three times against funding stem cell research. Actions speak far louder than words.

When it comes to stem cell research, I am committed to doing everything I can to help researchers turn potential into reality. My record is consistent and crystal clear. I know all too well the ways in which debilitating diseases touch American families each and every day.

I am proud to stand with the nation's medical and scientific communities against President Bush's shamefully misguided stem cell policy. And I will continue to vote in support of stem cell research - which is a vote for hope, opportunity and humanity.