House to Vote on Cloning Ban

It is now anticipated that the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on a ban on human cloning during the week of February 24.

On February 5, Reps. Dave Weldon (R-FL) and Bart Stupak (D-MI)introduced the Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2003 (H.R. 534) (supercedes the earlier H.R. 234). H.R. 534 has 123 other cosponsors. H.R. 534 is a genuine ban on human cloning and is similar to the measure passed last Congress by the House with the vote 265-162.

On Feb. 12, under the leadership of Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), the House Judiciary Committee approved H.R. 534 by the vote 19-12. The Committee rejected all weakening and hostile amendments.

On the floor, it will be important to pass the rule governing H.R. 534's consideration; to defeat all hostile amendments, especially any substitute amendment that would allow the creation and then killing of human clones for sake of experimentation; and to defeat motions to recommit the bill to committee.

According to H.R. 534, human clones could not be created for the purpose of experimentation and then killed, nor could they be created and brought to live birth. Rep. Weldon stated: "Human cloning hasn't cured any diseases, it will commercialize women's eggs and wombs, it poses serious risks to the cloned child to be, and violates human dignity."

Human cloning is a way of producing a genetic twin of an organism without sexual reproduction. The genetic material from a body cell is introduced into a female reproductive cell (an oocyte) whose genetic material has been removed or inactivated. After stimulation, a new human life begins. Trials in animal cloning indicate that 95% to 99% of the embryos will die. Those that survive may have devastating health problems.

Human cloning is dehumanizing and immoral, whether it is used to create embryos and then kill them for experimentation or to bring the clones to live birth. More information on the morality of human cloning can be found at www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/bioethic. For additional background, see www.cloninginformation.org.

Action: Contact your representative through fax letter, e-mail, or phone calls. E-mail is best suited for a brief statement of your views. Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office of your representative. Or call a local office. For more contact information, see clerk.house.gov/members/index.php.

Message: "Please vote for H.R. 534, a genuine ban on human cloning. Please support the rule and oppose substitute or other weakening amendments."

When: A vote may occur on the House floor during the week of Feb. 24.