Utah Senator Orrin Hatch is pressing Senate leaders to open debate on a package of bills dealing with stem cell research in hopes that Congress could vote to expand the research by the end of May.
Hatch and a bipartisan group of lawmakers back a bill that would loosen restrictions on government-paid research on human embryonic stem cells. He is lobbying Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to take action by May 24th, which would mark a year since the House passed the same bill.
Hatch says Frist has promised to bring the bill up for a Senate vote this year, but has yet to schedule the debate.
Supporters say the cells would help in the search for cures for diseases including Alzheimer's, juvenile diabetes and cancer.
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But the process destroys the embryo, considered a life by some religious conservatives, making it a difficult issue for Republicans.
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