Degette Statement In Support Of Banning Reproductive Cloning

WASHINGTON, DC - Chief Deputy WhipDiana DeGette (D-CO) today made the following statement in support ofH.R. 2560 - the DeGette-Murphy "Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2007":

"I rise today in strong support for H.R. 2560, the "Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2007."

"Tomorrow,the House will debate S. 5, the "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act,"to expand the number of stem cell lines that are eligible for federallyfunded research. Similar to legislation passed in the House earlierthis year (H.R. 3) with overwhelming bipartisan support, the goal of S.5 is to accelerate scientific progress toward cures and treatments fora wide range of diseases and debilitating health conditions. When wedebated the bill in January, opponents of the bill chose to muddle thedebate by offering a motion to recommit involving cloning - a topicunrelated to H.R. 3. After the debate, a number of my colleagues askedme if we could address the issue of human reproductive cloning. So, aswe prepare to debate embryonic stem cell research tomorrow, I haveintroduced H.R. 2560 so that we can discuss this important issue.

"Sincescientists in Scotland were able to create a cloned sheep named "Dolly"some have speculated about the possibility of one day cloning humanbeings. However, we can all agree that there is universal oppositionto conducting human reproductive cloning and it should be banned. Unfortunately, at this time there is no federal law preventingirresponsible individuals from conducting research in an attempt toachieve human reproductive cloning.

"The most effective way toprevent human reproductive cloning in the United States is to pass afederal prohibition on this practice and impose severe penalties fordoing so. That is why I have introduced the "Human Cloning ProhibitionAct of 2007" with my colleague Congressman Chris Murphy. Our billwould make it illegal to use cloning technology to initiate a pregnancyand thereby create a cloned human being. The penalties for such an actcould include severe criminal sanctions, in addition to as much as$10,000,000 in civil fines. These strict penalties are necessary toensure that such an act is prevented from occurring.

"Opponentsof our bill to ban human reproductive cloning have sought tocharacterize it as a much broader bill. While they make many falseclaims, the fact of the matter is that our bill is solely a ban onhuman reproductive cloning - something that all Members of Congress, aswell as the vast majority of the American public, support. Theaccusations that this bill expressly allows something new are false.

"Ialso find it ironic that those who oppose our bill argue that one ofits flaws is that it would force all cloned embryos to be killed. Thebill bans human reproductive cloning. Nothing more, nothing less. So,the argument of those who say they are against cloning is that weshould defeat our bill to prevent cloned embryos from being killed. Itdefies logic - just like it defies logic why anyone would vote againstthis bill.

"Mr. Speaker, I hope today that we can focus on whatthis bill does - prevent reproductive cloning. We all agree that thepractice should be banned. Let's pass our bill and make this happen."

The"Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2007" would make it illegal to usecloning technology to initiate a pregnancy and thereby create a clonedhuman being. The penalties for such an act could include severecriminal sanctions, in addition to $10,000,000 in civil fines. Thesestrict penalties are necessary to ensure that such an act is preventedfrom occurring.

Section 1 Short Title: "Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2007"

Section 2 Prohibition Against Human Cloning

Itshall be unlawful for any person, including a governmental entity, fromperforming human cloning. In addition, it shall also be unlawful forany person to ship, mail, transport, or receive the product of humansomatic cell nuclear transfer technology knowing that the purpose isfor human cloning.

Human cloning is defined as implanting theproduct of human somatic cell nuclear transfer technology into a uterusor functional equivalent of a uterus. Somatic cell nuclear transfermeans transferring the nuclear material of a human somatic cell into anegg cell from which the nuclear material has been removed or renderedinert.

Those who engage in human cloning will face strictcriminal and civil penalties. Specifically, individuals who violatethis law shall be imprisoned for as many as ten years and/or fined inaccordance with title 18, U.S. Code. In addition, individuals whoviolate the law are liable for civil penalties not to exceed thegreater of $10 million or an amount equal to the amount of any grosspecuniary gain derived from such a violation multiplied by two.