Moderate Republicans plan to support legislation authorizing increased federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research in the new congressional session, CongressDaily reports. Republican moderates aim to take advantage of "growing public support" for the research in pushing the measure next year, according to CongressDaily. Rep. Michael Castle (R-Del.) on Tuesday said he plans to reintroduce in February a bill supporting increased funding for embryonic stem cell research in February, adding that the legislation will be the "number one" goal of the Republican Main Street Partnership in 2005, according to CongressDaily. Castle said he hopes the recent passage of California's Proposition 71 will highlight the national debate over embryonic stem cell research and garner support for increased federal funding among Republicans, according to CongressDaily (Heil, CongressDaily, 11/17). The passage of Proposition 71 -- a ballot measure that will provide $295 million annually for 10 years in part for human embryonic stem cell research in the state -- makes California the first state to publicly fund embryonic stem cell research and is expected to lead to a major recruiting effort and construction boom in the state. President Bush on Aug. 9, 2001, announced a policy limiting federally funded embryonic stem cell research to cell lines created on or before that date (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 11/15). Larry Goldstein, a researcher at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, said California's funds cannot replace the need for federal money, adding, "It's only a drop in the bucket relative to what the federal government ought to be doing." However, embryonic stem cell research opponents say that the Bush administration likely will not reverse its stance on federal funding, especially following an election in which "socially conservative" Republicans became a major force, CongressDaily reports (CongressDaily, 11/17).