Buono Statement On Passage Of Stem Cell Institute Bill

TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey, D-Essex, today continued his pledge to advance New Jersey’s stem cell research agenda by introducing legislation allocating $150 million in unused bond capacity for construction of a world-class stem cell research facility.

“Every moment we delay funding New Jersey’s Stem Cell Institute will cost us, both in lives lost and economic potential unrealized. New research shows stem cells may be the key to fighting cancer. In New Jersey, alone, think about how many lives could be saved by these therapies, and how much suffering could be eased,” said Sen. Codey. “This new facility will provide patients throughout our state with easy access to the most cutting-edge treatments and best possible care. I look forward to working with Governor Corzine, Speaker Roberts and stem cell supporters like Assemblyman Neil Cohen, to move this initiative forward.”

TRENTON – In a move that could position New Jersey as a leader in stem cell research, both houses of the legislature gave final approval to a bill sponsored by Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) to fund a world-class stem cell institute and several other supporting research facilities throughout the state.

“This is a long-term investment in our natural assets that may one day yield life altering results for New Jersey residents and people the world over,” said Sen. Codey. “New Jersey’s stem cell institute can be the place where hope translates into real therapies. This bill has the potential to secure New Jersey’s place as a leader in the life science industry, ease suffering and save countless lives.”

TRENTON – New Jersey’s stem cell agenda took another step forward today with the Senate Budget Committee approving a bill sponsored by Senate President Richard J. Codey, D-Essex, which allocates $150 million to build a world-class stem cell institute. Sen. Codey testified before the committee, saying the bill, S1471, “has the potential to chart a new course in New Jersey history and the history of medical treatment all over the world.”

The legislation, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex, allocates $200 million in unused bond capacity for construction of a stem cell institute in New Brunswick, as well as $50 million for a joint biomedical research facility in Camden. The stem cell institute would be located in the heart of New Jersey’s world-renowned life sciences industry and would be jointly operated by Rutgers University and the UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) that would allow a municipal court to impose an alternative option in lieu of immediate payment of a fine if a person does not have the ability to pay was unanimously approved today by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The bill (S1471) would allow the court to order the payment of a penalty in installments for a period of time determined by the court if it finds that a person does not have the ability to pay the penalty in full or has failed to pay a previously imposed penalty.

TRENTON – The Senate today approved by a vote of 29 to 10 a measure sponsored by Senate President Richard J. Codey and Senators Barbara Buono and Wayne R. Bryant, that would appropriate $50 million in unused bond capacity to fund a biomedical research institute in Camden.

“The creation of this new facility would work to help maintain South Jersey’s status as a leader in medical research,” said Senator Bryant, D-Camden and Gloucester. “The Coriell Institute is world-renowned for its biomedical work, and this funding and the formation of the Rutgers Camden research institute , along with other world-class facilities in our area would allow many of the State’s brightest minds to work together and find ways to help improve the health of people in New Jersey and around the world.”

TRENTON – Senator Wayne R. Bryant today praised Governor Corzine and Senate President Richard J. Codey for advancing the $200 million stem-cell research measure which would provide $50 million for a joint biomedical research facility in Camden.

“South Jersey stands to benefit greatly from this measure because of its existing medical expertise and in-place research facilities,” said Senator Bryant, D-Camden and Gloucester. “Governor Corzine and Senator Codey are to be commended for making this a priority.”

TRENTON – A collaborative biomedical research and education effort in Camden would receive a $50 million boost under the $200 million stem-cell research measure approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

“South Jersey is blessed with an abundance of dedicated, biomedical research professionals who are prepared to make quality-of-life breakthroughs of world-renowned proportions,” said Senator Bryant, Chairman of the panel. “This critical funding will help expedite those advancements.”

TRENTON – Senator Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex, made the follow statement today after both the Senate and the Assembly gave final approval for her bill, S-1471, which would authorize $270 million to build stem cell research and biomedical research facilities in New Jersey:

“For countless families in New Jersey and across the nation, today is day that has been a long time coming. Today we give them hope that New Jersey will be a leader in the efforts to find cures to some of humanity’s most debilitating illnesses so that one day their loved ones will no longer need to fight diabetes, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.

TRENTON – New Jersey’s stem cell agenda moved forward with resounding approval today as the full Senate voted 29 to 10 to approve S-1471, a bill sponsored by Senate President Richard J. Codey, D-Essex, which would allocate funding to build a world-class stem cell institute. The legislation, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex, allocates $250 million in unused bond capacity for construction of a $150 million stem cell institute in New Brunswick, a $50 million joint biomedical research facility in Camden, and a $50 million adult stem cell research facility at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) in Newark.

“New Jersey’s stem cell institute can be the place where hope translates into real therapies,” said Sen. Codey. “New Jersey has a lot of advantages in the race for a cure, with our first rate universities and some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical and bio-tech companies. This bill has the potential to secure New Jersey’s place as a leader in the life science industry, ease suffering and save countless lives. But, right now there are only a handful of first-rate stem cell scientists and they are waiting on the edge of their seat to see who makes the first serious investment. Every day we wait potentially puts us a day behind.”

TRENTON – Senator Barbara Buono, sponsor of S-1471, the bill to provide $270 million in funding to build stem cell research centers and facilities for cancer and biomedical research in New Jersey, made the following statement today following the signing of the bill by Governor Corzine:

“Today we have taken the next step in creating a legacy for New Jersey of hope, compassion, and discovery based on the promise of stem cell research.