People Helping People: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Office of the Governor of the State of California
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August 04, 2009
Since taking office, Governor Schwarzenegger has thrown his unwavering support behind stem cell research because he believes this revolutionary science has the potential to save millions of lives from debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis. He even authorized a $150 million loan to keep stem cell research afloat when President Bush vetoed legislation that would have provided federal funding.
And now, thanks to the efforts of Governor Schwarzenegger and California voters, our state leads the nation in this remarkable research field. With support from the Obama Administration, highlighted by President Obama's Executive Order authorizing federal funding for stem cell research, the Governor is confident that soon, people around the world will be able to enjoy the potentially life-saving benefits of stem cell research.
- In 2004, Governor Schwarzenegger Championed And Voters Approved Proposition 71 To Make California The Nation's Leader In Stem Cell Research. Proposition 71 devoted $3 billion to stem cell research and created the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). (Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Gov. Schwarzenegger Applauds President Obama For Lifting Funding Ban For Embryonic Stem Cell Research," Press Release, 3/9/09)
- CIRM is now the largest source of funding for embryonic and pluripotent stem cell research in the world. (California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Website, http://www.cirm.ca.gov/, Accessed 3/10/09)
- To date, CIRM has approved 279 grants totaling more than $693 million. (California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Website, http://www.cirm.ca.gov/, Accessed 3/10/09)
- When President Bush Vetoed Federal Funding For Stem Cell Research - The Governor Immediately Authorized A $150 Million Loan To Keep This Potentially Life-Saving Research Going. When legislation went before President Bush that would have allowed federal funding for stem cell research, the Governor called on the President to sign the bill. When the President vetoed it, the Governor immediately authorized a $150 million General Fund loan to CIRM to keep stem cell research going. (Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Governor Schwarzenegger Takes Executive Action To Strengthen Stem Cell Research In California," Press Release, 7/20/06)
- The Loan Put An End To "A Near-Paralysis In The Field Due To Legal Challenges Involving The Voter-Approved, $3 Billion California Institute For Regenerative Medicine."(Lisa M. Krieger, "Governor Energizes Stem-Cell Research," San Jose Mercury News, 7/21/06)
- The Loan Put An End To "A Near-Paralysis In The Field Due To Legal Challenges Involving The Voter-Approved, $3 Billion California Institute For Regenerative Medicine."(Lisa M. Krieger, "Governor Energizes Stem-Cell Research," San Jose Mercury News, 7/21/06)
- Governor Schwarzenegger Helped Forge International Partnerships To Advance Cancer Stem Cell Research. In May 2007, the Governor traveled to Canada to highlight the depth of collaboration between Californian and Canadian stem cell research scientists, and Canada's Premier of Ontario announced the creation of the Cancer Stem Cell Consortium (CSCC), meant to coordinate and fund cancer stem cell research of both Canada and California researchers, universities and private industry. (Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Governor Schwarzenegger Highlights California-Canada Partnership On Life-Saving Stem Cell Research," Press Release, 5/30/07)
- CIRM has since secured a collaborative partnership with CSCC to advance cancer stem cell research. (CSCC & CIRM, "The Cancer Stem Cell Consortium And The California Institute For Regenerative Medicine Announce Plans To Collaborate On Disease Team Awards," Press Release, 6/08)
- The Governor Signed Legislation To Protect Women Facilitating This Revolutionary Research. In September 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger signed SB 1260 which established guidelines, consent procedures and standards for financial compensation for women donating eggs for stem cell research funded outside of Proposition 71. (Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation To Benefit Women's Health," Press Release, 9/26/06)