Washington - President Obama today reversed a Bush-administration ban on embryonic stem cell research, a type of research that scientists say has the potential to bring about tremendous medical advancements. He also ordered federal agencies to base scientific decisions on scientific fact instead of ideology. U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), a leading Senate proponent of embryonic stem cell research, today released the following statement:

"I have watched Alzheimer's Disease take over my strong and proud mother, and I want no family to have to go through in the future what our family has gone through over the past few years. Today ushers in a new era of hope against disease and disability. Millions upon millions of Americans who watch helplessly as a loved one becomes debilitated or are themselves suffering can now be more confident that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Diabetes, paralysis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and, hopefully one day, cancer - these are diseases and disabilities against which we now have more of a fighting change. As someone who has been working my hardest to make this day possible, seeing President Obama help deliver this change in our fight against disease and disability was a heartwarming moment of optimism.

"President Obama's order to restore scientific integrity also marks a vital step forward for public health, energy and environmental policy in our nation. Good, sound science should be the basis of our medical, technological and environmental decisions. By rooting our scientific decisions in facts and not ideology, we can act in the best interests of humankind."

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