[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 53 (Thursday, May 2, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3833-S3834]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 FOSTERING HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to print in the 
Record remarks I made before the U.S. Humane Society.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

  Remarks by U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, at the U.S. Humane Society, 
                            Washington, D.C.

       From ancient days, before the ink of history, man has held 
     dominion over the animals. Should we be able to peer through 
     the mist of those distant times, we might witness the process 
     by which man turned from gatherer to hunter, and, skill 
     permitting, began to use the flesh of animals as a source of 
     food and survival in a cold world full of danger and a 
     perilous future. Later, the relationship of man and animals 
     began to evolve through so-called domestication, and animals 
     became a more reliable source of food. A partnership of sorts 
     was formed in which animals came to bear the brunt of labor 
     and the title ``Beasts of Burden''.
       Over this same stretch of time, man developed social 
     compacts from which sprang the seeds of modern civilization, 
     and which led to pursuits of philosophy, and an emphasis on 
     morality. The process was slow in development and uneven in 
     allocation among and within societies. Even today, attitudes 
     and actions persist that run counter to a higher 
     understanding about the value of life and the lives of all 
     things. For better or worse, man is destined to rule this 
     world, and with that charge comes the heavy responsibility of 
     benevolent custody and faithful husbandry to all creatures 
     found within nature. To fail in that duty is to denigrate the 
     sanctity of all life. Choices in our treatment of animals are 
     a good barometer of how well we are carrying out our 
     stewardship of God's beautiful world. Man may choose to rule 
     this world, or attempt to do so, but for all his worry over 
     property rights among his own species, it is well to remember 
     that it is only God who holds title to this planet.
       Maintaining civilization sometimes seems a process of 
     constant struggle with those who, either because of ignorance 
     or a deliberate scheme, would prefer to stress efficiency and 
     materialism over more elusive concepts. To balance those 
     forces, those of us who hear a different drummer must 
     educate, legislate, and promulgate better understandings and 
     guidelines aimed at bringing mankind into closer harmony with 
     nature. The Congress embodies the collective will of the 
     American people, and those of us who serve there recognize 
     that our duty is to the people in our states. But, we also 
     have a duty to safeguard the spirit of this Nation and all 
     that it represents in terms of philosophy and ideals, as well 
     as law. You honor me this evening for my work in pursuit of 
     these higher objectives, and I am very grateful.
       Your organization works to enrich the condition of man by 
     improving his relationship with nature, and in particular, 
     his relationship with the animal kingdom. You bring to the 
     public discourse a better understanding of the conditions in 
     which animals exist and, unfortunately in many instances, of 
     the inhumane manner in which they are treated. You remind us 
     all that animals share this planet with us, and that their 
     space, their comfort, and their lives are not without 
     importance. You remind us of man's higher purpose in the 
     larger universe. Public debate is enriched by your 
     participation, and the lives of God's creatures greatly 
     benefit because of your contributions.
       Animals are man's fellow occupants on this blue-green ball, 
     slowly spinning through eternity, and they enlighten and 
     enliven our lives in many ways. They provide us companionship 
     and friendship. They ward off loneliness. They assist the 
     blind. They protect us. They help maintain the balance of 
     nature. While there are those who object to the practice, 
     they feed us. They benefit us in ways we don't even 
     recognize. In return, it is our duty to ensure that their 
     lives and, in some cases, their deaths, are free from 
     unnecessary discomfort. Animals, deserve our respect because, 
     they, too, are creatures of God. Combating cruelty and apathy 
     towards the welfare of animals is a high and moral calling. I 
     commend you for your altruism, and I am proud to count myself 
     among your number. We cannot correct all the problems 
     overnight, but we can make changes today, and we can make 
     changes tomorrow. We have come a long way towards the goal of 
     fostering more humane treatment for animals, but we still 
     have much to do.
       This evening, together we pause to reflect on our 
     achievements and to contemplate future strategies. I am 
     humbled by your recognition of my work, your encouragement, 
     and the hope that our efforts may inspire others to a more 
     sublime level of humanity through empathy with the animals 
     with which we share this lovely world.

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I am pleased to join several of my 
distinguished colleagues in support of S. 2439, the Human Cloning 
Prohibition Act of 2002, that will outlaw the reproductive cloning of 
human beings, and at the same time promote critical medical research. 
During my consideration of the new and emerging areas of regenerative 
medicine, including nuclear transplantation technologies, two basic 
principles have guided my thoughts. First, as someone who has taken a 
pro-life stance, I believe that Congress should pursue policies that 
encourage the development of life-saving treatments. Second, nuclear 
transplantation research, if performed under the strictest

[[Page S3834]]

of safeguards, is both moral and ethical.
  Nuclear transplantation technologies hold enormous promise for the 
future of medicine. For example, this research may help those suffering 
from defective organs. Scientists may one day have the ability to use a 
patient's own body cells to grow tissues with identical genetic 
material, thereby eliminating the risk of rejection. Regenerative 
medicine also has the potential to provide treatments for diseases such 
as cancer, heart disease, Parkinson's, diabetes, ALS, multiple 
sclerosis, and many others. Experts estimate that over 100 million 
Americans suffer from diseases that are candidates for regenerative 
medicine research using nuclear transplantation.
  While some critics of this research claim that we cannot be sure of 
its benefits, we will certainly not know the answer unless we try. 
Scientific discoveries are never predictable, and we must not hamper 
the abilities of our sharpest minds to explore the universe, down to 
the tiniest cell. We do not know the full potential of this research. 
These scientific advances may help us gain insight into how 
undifferentiated stem cells begin to develop into the more than 200 
specialized cells and tissues that make up the human body. There are 
untold benefits to be gained from knowledge of the earliest development 
of these cells. In addition to the advances that may be made in the 
treatment of common diseases, we may also learn more about human 
health, how disease develops, and other conditions ranging from birth 
defects to genetically-inherited illnesses.
  All of us know people who have suffered from incurable diseases. I 
believe that we must make every effort, within ethical bounds, to help 
those afflicted with life-threatening illness. While I respect those 
who disagree with me, I believe that support for regenerative medicine 
is the essence of the pro-life position. We must help those living in 
the shadow of sickness, whether they are cancer patients receiving 
chemotherapy treatments or diabetics facing the loss of vision or 
kidney failure.
  Nuclear transplantation research, if performed under strict ethical 
guidelines and with appropriate oversight, is an entirely appropriate 
and morally sound activity. For instance, during nuclear 
transplantation, an egg is never fertilized by a sperm. Rather, the 
genetic material from a non-reproductive human cell is placed into an 
egg cell. Additionally, the resulting embryo is never implanted into a 
woman's womb or an artificial womb. The result is that a human being 
can never be born from this carefully controlled research.
  I want to assure my colleagues and constituents that I am committed 
to ensuring the safety and morality of scientific research. I feel 
confident that nuclear transplantation technologies can be performed in 
a controlled and regulated environment which will prevent abuse. While 
the bill as introduced includes stringent ethical guidelines, I am open 
to amending the bill to ensure that the strongest protections are put 
in place. For example, women who donate eggs and those who donate body 
cells must only do so in a voluntary manner. Additionally, the 
development of the unfertilized embryo in the lab must be restricted. 
Therefore, the embryo will not grow past a certain time threshold. I 
will also gladly consider any other appropriate and reasonable 
guidelines to ensure the safety of nuclear transplantation 
technologies.

  I hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting this legislation 
that will ban human reproductive cloning but will promote the 
development of regenerative medicine. We must make reproductive cloning 
illegal and provide for stiff criminal penalties. This bill 
accomplishes these all-important goals. Also, this legislation allows 
invaluable scientific research to go forward under strict ethical 
standards, thereby establishing a policy that both respects human life 
and encourages the advancement of medicine.
  Regenerative medicine technologies such as nuclear transplantation 
hold out significant hope for those people who suffer from devastating 
and debilitating medical conditions. Cures for horrific diseases may 
one day be a reality. We should not allow these promising areas of 
research to go untapped, and we should pursue scientific breakthroughs 
that will improve the quality of life for millions of people. I am 
pleased to stand in support of regenerative medicine alongside former 
President Ford, former First Lady Nancy Reagan, the American Pediatric 
Association, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and 40 American 
Nobel Prize winners.

                          ____________________