Washington, DC — The House of Representatives plans to vote next Thursday on a pro-life bill that would ban both forms of human cloning — reproductive cloning, used to create new human beings, and so-called research cloning that creates human embryos destroyed for their stem cells.
As the House prepares to take up the bill, Senators continue to debate conflicting bans. Pro-life Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Sen Mary Landrieu (D-LA) have proposed a pro-life ban on both forms of cloning and a group of Senators, including Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) have proposed a bill that only bans reproductive cloning but allows human embryos to be destroyed for research.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., a heart surgeon who has long opposed any cloning of human embryos, would like to see a ban passed, “especially in light of the recent developments,” said Nick Smith, his spokesman. “It's our hope that legislation will be addressed this year.”
The House is expected to pass the total cloning ban, as it did last year. The Brownback bill is similar to the House bill, sponsored by pro-life Reps. Dave Weldon (R-FL) and Bart Stupak (D-MI).
“Cloning is cloning is cloning,” Brownback said. “When you create humans for research, you inherently degrade humans.”
Besides pro-life groups, some environmental and women's organizations also support a total ban on human cloning. Supporters emphasize that the bill would still permit cloning research, but using adult cells, not embryonic material. The pro-life community considers adult stem cell research more plentiful, effective and ethical.
Those opposed to the Hatch-Feinstein bill say a ban on reproductive cloning but not research cloning would be almost impossible to enforce.
Doug Johnson, director of the National Right to Life Committee, said Hatch's bill is simply a roadblock, not a serious attempt to pass a human cloning ban. He pointed to the White House and the House of Representatives' support for Brownback's bill and opposition to Hatch's.
“This type of bill will not become law,” Johnson said. “The White House has vowed to veto it.”
Frist has said he favors a total ban on human embryo cloning. Although Frist largely controls the agenda on the Senate floor, it is uncertain how his views will affect either of the bills' chances.
Frist also will have a large say in who represents the Senate on a conference committee, if the House and Senate approve different versions of a ban on cloning.
Both sides have pointed to bans in other countries when seeking to support their positions.
Britain, for example, has a law that bans reproductive cloning but allows cloning for research under tight guidelines. France has proposed an international ban on human reproductive cloning, and regulation for therapeutic cloning.
But other, predominantly Catholic countries such as Spain support a total worldwide ban on human cloning, and the pope has come out against all cloning of humans.
ACTION: Please contact your member of Congress and urge strong support for a total ban on human cloning. Ask your Representative to vote for the Weldon-Stupak cloning ban and oppose any efforts to weaken it. You can reach members of Congress at 202-224-3121 or find specific contact information for your member by last name by clicking here.
(This article courtesy of Steven Ertelt and the Pro-Life Infonet email newsletter. For more information or to subscribe go to www.prolifeinfo.org or email infonet@prolifeinfo.org.)
