SEATTLE (AP) - Washington's two U.S. senators are criticizing President Bush's veto on Thursday of a bill that would have eased restraints on federally funded research on embryonic stem cells.

Senator Patty Murray said Bush's action "vetoed the hope of millions of Americans" for research that could lead to disease cures.

And Senator Maria Cantwell said she will work with others in Congress to try to override the veto. She said the legislation was passed by a bipartisan majority in Congress.

Both Murray and Cantwell are Democrats.

Bush, a Republican, said he vetoed the stem cell research bill to prevent the country from crossing a moral boundary. He ordered federal health officials to promote other research into cells that could lead to developing cures.