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Two days ago, on May 24, 2005, the U.S. House of Representative passed, on a 238 to 194 vote, H.R. 810, the "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005."

The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 lifts the restriction, imposed by President George Bush on August 9, 2001, allowing only those stem cell lines derived before that date to be eligible for federally funded research. H.R. 810 makes stem cell lines eligible for federally funded research regardless of the date on which they were derived.

Republican Congressman from Connecticut Christopher Shays was an original cosponsor of H.R. 810 and a member of the whip team responsible for mustering support for passing it.

Representative Shays issued a statement after H.R. 810 passed the House on Tuesday, in which he said:

"Today's vote on the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act is one of the most important votes I've cast in Congress. Stem cell research has the potential to prevent, treat and even cure debilitating diseases from which millions of American suffer. We need to remember the Dark Ages are over. Copernicus and Galileo were correct; the Earth is round and revolves around the sun and science will prevail.”

Here's the text of the remarks made by Congressman Shays on the House floor in support of H.R. 810:

"Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, legislation that expands the President's embryonic stem cell policy while maintaining the ethical guidelines he laid out.

"Representatives Castle and DeGette deserve our thanks for sponsoring this legislation, and working with so many families who have been impacted by diseases that may find cures as a result of this vital research. Their work and dedication on this legislation have been tremendous and praiseworthy.

"I also thank them for giving me the opportunity to cast one of the most important votes I will ever make in Congress.

"Almost everyone has lost some family member prematurely. I think of the grandmother who I never met who died when her daughter - my mother - was only sixteen. I think of my mother-in-law, who never had the opportunity to know her grandchild, who is now twenty-five. I think of my cousin, who was brilliant, and never got to realize his full potential.

"Embryonic stem cell research has the potential to cure disease and save lives in ways never dreamed of - and it's only six years old.

"These are discarded embryos that were never in the womb. They weren't taken from it and they weren't put into it. But they can help save lives. That is why it is so important that we not only pass this legislation today, but that the President signs this bill into law.

"Sometimes ideology can box you in and cause you to make wrong and harmful decisions. I think it's time we recognized the Dark Ages are over. Galileo and Copernicus have been proven right. The world is in fact round; the Earth does revolve around the sun. I believe God gave us intellect to differentiate between imprisoning dogma and sound ethical science, which is what we must do here today.

"I want history to look back at this Congress and say that in the face of the age-old tension between religion and science the Members here allowed critical scientific research to advance while respecting important ethical questions that surrounded it.

"We know that by allowing embryonic stem cell research to go forward, treatment and prevention for disease will not come to us overnight. But we also know that embryonic stem cell research has the potential to yield significant scientific advances to heal and prevent so many diseases throughout the world."

H.R. 810 is now pending in the U.S. Senate, where Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA), and others, are calling on Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) to schedule an "up-or-down vote," of the type he vehemently demanded for President Bush's judicial appointments, on this measure.

Working together with one of Connecticut's U.S. Senators, Christopher Dodd, Congressman Shays has also been active lately protecting his Connecticut constituents, and others, from the double income taxation that the State of New York is trying to impose on Connecticut residents, and from the double income taxation that other states may try to impose on others, who save themselves time and trouble, reduce traffic congestion, and protect the environment by working from home, electronically, as telecommuters, across state lines.

In a press release issued on May 6, 2005, entitled Dodd, Shays to Introduce the Telecommuter Tax Fairness Act," Senator Dodd and Congressman Shays make these points about telecommuting:

"Telecommunication advancements of the 21st century offer greater flexibility to workers without compromising productivity, ultimately benefiting the economy. Telecommuters provide valuable, cost efficient options for many businesses, families, and communities. Workers can be more involved at home with their families by avoiding a daily commute. Communities benefit by less congested roads, rails, and sidewalks, and the reduction of air-pollution caused by heavy volumes of traditional commuters. Telecommuting is not just a convenience for workers, but it is also an asset to companies and a relief to local governments. In sum, telecommuters provide efficiency while promoting a cleaner environment and less stress on roads and rails that states promote."

Here's what the Telecommuter Tax Fairness Act would do, for Connecticut residents telecommuting to New York City or elsewhere, and for telecommuters anywhere and everywhere in the U.S., in the words of the press release:

"Dodd and Shays’ initiative will prevent states like New York from collecting taxes from employees for work performed outside that state. Employees would have to be physically present and working in the state for a state to be authorized to collect income tax from the employee."

Here are these provisions in the language of H.R. 2558 itself:

"(1) IN GENERAL- In applying its income tax laws to the salary of a nonresident individual, a State may only deem such nonresident individual to be present in or working in such State for any period of time if such nonresident individual is physically present in such State for such period and such State may not impose nonresident income taxes on such salary with respect to any period of time when such nonresident individual is physically present in another State.

"(2) DETERMINATION OF PHYSICAL PRESENCE- For purposes of determining physical presence, no State may deem a nonresident individual to be present in or working in such State on the grounds that such nonresident individual is present at or working at home for the nonresident individual's convenience."

If both of these bills supported by Congressman Shays eventually become law, Connecticut residents (and others) working on certain kinds of embryonic stem cell research as full- or part-time telecommuters across state lines will be payable with federal research funds not taxable for state income tax purposes on that portion of the work they do electronically from home.