[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 350 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 350

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to 
 private companies involved in the trafficking of baby body parts for 
                                profit.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 2, 1999

  Mr. Tancredo (for himself, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, and Mr. Pitts) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                              on Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to 
 private companies involved in the trafficking of baby body parts for 
                                profit.

Whereas the National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993 effectively 
        lifted the ban on federally funded research involving the 
        transplantation of baby body parts, and such Act made it a Federal 
        felony for any person to knowingly, for ``valuable consideration,'' 
        purchase or sell baby body parts (with a term of imprisonment of up to 
        10 years and with fines of up to $250,000 in the case of an individual 
        and $500,000 in the case of an organization);
Whereas private companies have sought to meet the demand by both public and 
        private research facilities by providing baby body parts;
Whereas the definition of ``valuable consideration'' under the National 
        Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993 does not include 
        reasonable payments associated with the transportation, implantation, 
        processing, preservation, quality control, or storage of baby body 
        parts; and
Whereas private companies appear to believe that the definition of ``valuable 
        consideration'' allows them to circumvent Federal law and avoid felony 
        charges with impunity while trafficking in baby body parts for profit: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the Congress should exercise oversight responsibilities and conduct 
hearings, and take appropriate steps if necessary, concerning private 
companies that are involved in the trafficking of baby body parts for 
profit.
                                 <all>