[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 174 (Friday, December 14, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2303]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  PROHIBIT FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ANY ORGANIZATION ENGAGING IN ANYTHING 
                    HAVING TO DO WITH HUMAN CLONING

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 13, 2001

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce legislation prohibiting 
federal funding for any organization that engages in human cloning or 
human cloning techniques. Moral and legal questions surrounding human 
cloning are among the most contentious and divisive facing America 
today. However, I hope we can all agree that no American should be 
forced to subsidize this activity.
  Some believe the current prohibition on the use of federal funds for 
cloning and cloning research is sufficient protection for those 
taxpayers who object to cloning. However, this argument is flawed for 
two reasons. First, the current ban is not permanent and thus could be 
changed at will by a future Congress or administration. Second, because 
money is fungible, current law does not necessarily prevent federal 
funds from subsidizing cloning. After all, whenever a company that 
engages in cloning research receives federal dollars for any project, 
the company obviously then has more dollars available to use for 
cloning. Therefore, any federal funding for companies that engage in 
human cloning forces taxpayers to subsidize those activities. Thus, the 
only way to ensure that no American is forced to pay for cloning 
research is to eliminate all federal funding of such companies or 
organizations.
  Thomas Jefferson said ``To compel a man to furnish contributions for 
the promulgation of ideas he disbelieves is both sinful and 
tyrannical.'' I hope my colleagues will embrace the spirit of Jefferson 
and join me in ending the sinful and tyrannical practice of forcing 
taxpayers to subsidize a practice so many find abhorrent. I urge my 
colleagues to support this bill and forbid federal funds from going to 
any company which engages in human cloning.

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