Today In History: Obama Lifts Ban On Stem Cell Research; Bush Renews Patriot Act

March 9, 2017, is the 67th day of the year, with 297 days remaining. The moon is in a waxing gibbous phase, with illumination at 89 percent.

Obama Overturns Bush-Era Policy on Stem Cell Research

The week unfurled with an executive order, signed by President Obama, to repeal a Bush-era policy that limited federal tax dollars for embryonic stem cell research. The president also signed a memorandum to put forth substantial independence for federal science policies and programs.

Obama commented on the matter, “In recent years, when it comes to stem cell research, rather than furthering discovery, our government has forced what I believe is a false choice between sound science and moral values.”

“In this case,” he said, “I believe the two are not inconsistent.”

The president cited his faith as a motivator for such decision-making, noting a belief that “we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering,” a notion supported by the “capacity and will to pursue” stem cell research through humanity, conscientiousness and responsibility.

Further, Obama remarked that “medical miracles do not happen simply by accident,” fulfilling a campaign promise that was expected to set in motion research that supporters believed could offer cures for serious ailments, from diabetes to paralysis.

George W. Bush Renews Patriot Act

President George W. Bush signed the Patriot Act in 2001, an anti-terrorism law drawn up in response to the 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center.

The law was intended, in Bush’s words, to “enhance the penalties that will fall on terrorists or anyone who helps them.”

The move, which superseded all state laws, increased intelligence agencies’ ability to share information while also lifting restrictions on communications surveillance. Law enforcement officials were also given broader mandates to combat financial counterfeiting, smuggling and money-laundering schemes that funded terrorists. The expansion also gave the FBI access to personal information, such as financial and medical records.

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