12                              CONTINUE The ASCB  Newsletter,  Vol  24,  No    5 Subcommittee with jurisdiction over the NSF,  and  is  Chair  of  the  Congressional Black Caucus. n n President’s Decision on Stem Cell Research Still Pending As reported previously [March 2001 ASCB Newsletter],  the  Clinton  Administration policy allowing for federal funding of stem cell research is under review by the cur- rent Administration. The ASCB sent an email alert to its mem- bership  on  April  10  urging  scientists  to write to President Bush and their  Representatives  in Congress  asking  them  to support federal funding of embryonic  stem  cell  re- search.  Notwithstanding the vigorous response of the scientific  community,  the President ordered that the April 25 meeting of the NIH Human Pluri- potent  Stem  Cell  Review  Group  be  can- celed.   The HPSCRG is charged with re- viewing applications for stem cell research to ensure they comply with the NIH stem cell guidelines. Stem  cell  research  also remains of serious concern on Capitol Hill. At a recent NIH  hearing  on  chronic disease, Rep. Roger Wicker (R-MS), one of the original authors of the embryo re- search ban, suggested that the NIH could lose signifi- cant funding this year if it continues to make  human embryonic  stem  cell  re- search grants.  NIH Acting Director Ruth Kirschstein emphasized the need to explore the scientific potential of all stem cells— the less controversial adult variety as well as embryonic cells. In the Senate, Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) have reintroduced the Stem Cell Research Act, S. 723, which both allows for use of embryonic stem cells by federally funded scientists and the deriva- tion of those cells from the embryo.   n n President Nominates Allen for Deputy HHS Secretary President Bush has nominated Claude A. Allen as Deputy Secretary of Health & Hu- man  Services.  Allen  cur- rently serves as Secretary of Health   &   Human   Re- sources for the State of Vir- ginia and served in the Vir- ginia  Attorney  General’s Office from 1995-1998.  He was an Associate at Baker & Botts in Washington, D.C. from 1991-1995, was staff member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 1985-1987,  and  served  as  Senator  Jesse Helms’ press secretary. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina and Duke University Law School, and is known to be a conservative, market-oriented advisor to Virginia Governor James S. Gilmore, III.   n n Human Cloning Debate Heats Up Again The House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the Energy & Commerce Committee held a hearing on March 29 to [T]he  President  ordered that the April 25 meeting of the NIH Human Pluripo- tent  Stem  Cell  Review Group be canceled. Roger Wicker (R-MS), one of  the  original  authors  of the embryo research ban, suggested  that  the  NIH could lose significant fund- ing this year if it continues to  makes  human  embry- onic  stem  cell  research grants.