[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 28, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E49]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE HUMAN CLONING RESEARCH PROHIBITION ACT

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                           HON. CLIFF STEARNS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 28, 1998

  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, today I will be introducing legislation to 
prohibit federal funding for the cloning of human beings. My bill also 
calls for an international ban on human cloning.
  I would like to remind my colleagues that it took 273 tries to 
develop Dolly. But what about the other 272 animals? Most of them were 
either aborted, destroyed, or maimed. Do we want to do this with humans 
beings?
  There are serious ethical and moral implications involved with 
cloning of humans. Theologians and ethicists have raised three broad 
objections. Cloning humans could lead to a new eugenics movement, where 
even if cloning begins with a benign purpose, it could lead to the 
establishment of ``scientific'' categories of superior and inferior 
people. Cloning is a form of playing God, since it interferes with the 
natural order of creation. Cloning could have long-term effects that 
are unknown and harmful. People have a right to their own identity and 
their own genetic makeup, which should not be replicated.
  I, for one, do not think we can just sit idly by when there are 
people like Dr. Seed out there who look upon human life in much 
different terms than most Americans. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
this effort by cosponsoring my legislation.

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