(Updates with vote)

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON, June 7 (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers defied President George W. Bush on Thursday and gave final congressional approval to legislation to expand federally funded embryonic stem cell research.

But the 247-176 vote by the House of Representatives on the measure already passed by the Senate was short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a promised Bush veto.

The president, who in 2001 permitted research on then existing stem cell lines, has opposed expansion on moral grounds because embryos are destroyed when stem cells are extracted. He rejected a similar bill last year.

Backers of the measure urged Bush to reconsider, noting the research holds hope for millions of people suffering from such debilitating diseases such as Parkinson's and diabetes.

"Sixty-five percent of Americans believe this is a scientific medical avenue that ought to be pursued because they believe it has great hope to address some of the most serious afflictions confronting mankind," said House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland.

The emotion-packed matter appears certain to be an issue again in the November 2008 elections, which will see voters elect a new Congress and president.

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