News:

5-25-2005
Quadriplegic Indy Car Owner Urges Senate, President
Sam Schmidt encourages positive vote, Presidential signature on stem cell research bill

THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENATIVES PASSED A BILL TUESDAY EXPANDING PUBLIC FUNDING FOR EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH. THE BILL NOW MOVES TO THE SENATE AND, IF IT PASSES THERE, TO PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH FOR HIS SIGNATURE. THE BILL EXTENDS FUNDING TO RESEARCH ON EMBRYONIC STEM CELL LINES THAT WERE NOT IN EXISTENCE IN 2001, WHEN AN EXECUTIVE ORDER LIMITING SUCH RESEARCH WAS ISSUED.

SAM SCHMIDT OF LAS VEGAS, NEV., IS FOUNDER OF THE SAM SCHMIDT PARALYSIS FOUNDATION (www.samschmidt.org), WHICH HAS THE MISSION OF HELPING INDIVIDUALS OVERCOME SPINAL CORD INJURIES AND OTHER DEBILITATING ILLNESSES BY FACILITATING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, MEDICAL TREATMENT, REHABILITATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES. THE FOUNDATION RAISES FUNDS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE AND ENSURE THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES BY TOUCHING INDIVIDUAL LIVES.

SCHMIDT, 40, WAS INJURED DURING A CRASH IN TESTING AT ORLANDO, FLA., IN JANUARY, 2000. A WINNING DRIVER ON THE IRL CIRCUIT, SCHMIDT FORMED SAM SCHMIDT MOTORSPORTS, WHICH IS FIELDING THE #70 ENTRY OF DRIVER RICHIE HEARN IN SUNDAY’S INDIANAPOLIS 500. HE ALSO OWNS FOUR ENTRIES IN FRIDAY’S MENARDS INFINITI PRO SERIES RACE AT INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY.

THE THOUGHTS OF SAM SCHMIDT:

“We were all encouraged by the vote yesterday in the U.S. House of Representatives, and appreciate all of the congressmen who supported the funding of this research, so vital in the lives of so many Americans. We are really hoping the Senate will pass the bill as well, and that President Bush will recognize its importance to so many people and sign it into law.

“I believe this is a huge step forward for medical research in this country, and I recognize the importance placed upon this issue by the American population.

“Our hopes are the members of the Senate will look at the vital importance of this bill and will pass it as well, and we call upon President Bush to do the same and to sign it.”

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