WASHINGTON -- Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch commended the Senate for approving a bill expanding federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, saying, "It is possible to be both anti-abortion and pro-embryonic stem cell research."

Senators approved the bill Tuesday afternoon in a 63-37 vote after two days of debate in which supporters argued the research could lead to cures for diseases such as Alzheimer's, diabetes, cancer and Parkinson's.

But the research destroys the embryo, considered life by some opponents. President Bush in 2001 restricted government funding of the research and is expected to veto the bill.

Hatch is among a group of prominent Republicans -- including former first lady Nancy Reagan -- who have vocally supported the research.

He defended his vote after the bill passed and urged supporters to keep fighting despite Bush's impending veto.

"A critical part of being pro-life is to support measures that help the living," he said. "And this research enhances, not diminishes, human life. Regardless of the president's actions, we intend to keep pushing this research forward."

The Senate approved three bills. But only one, H.R. 810, which passed the House more than a year ago, would allow federal funds to be used in research on embryos derived from fertility treatments that would otherwise be discarded.

Bush is expected to sign the other two, which encourage study on stem cells derived from sources other than embryos and which would ban so-called fetal farming, the possibility of developing fetuses, then aborting them for scientific research.

"H.R. 810 is the one bill in the package that offers promise to millions of Americans," Hatch said. "Our top scientists want this bill. Patients are pleading for this bill. The American people overwhelmingly support this bill. Their future -- and the future of modern medicine -- lies in aggressively pursuing stem cell research."

Earlier, in a speech on the Senate floor, Hatch told the story of Cody Anderson, whose grandfather died of diabetes after a series of painful amputations. Cody's family, who used to live in West Jordan, visited Hatch's office in 2001 and helped persuade him to promote research that could lead to a cure.

Stem cell research will be expensive, and it will take potentially decades before it leads to treatments for patients, Hatch acknowledged.

But, he added, "To cede our leadership in such a promising field ... can only be shortsighted in the long run."

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A1.