On June 9, 1997, the President transmitted to Congress legislation making
it illegal for anyone to create a human being through cloning. The
President believes that using somatic cell nuclear transfer cloning
techniques to create a human being is untested, unsafe, and morally
unacceptable. The Administration, however, believes S. 1601, as
introduced, is too far-reaching because it would prohibit important
biomedical research aimed at preventing and treating serious and
life-threatening diseases. Therefore, the Administration would not support
passage of the bill in its current form. The Administration looks
forward to working with the Congress to address these concerns.
Specifically, the Administration supports amendments to S. 1601 that would:
- Include a five-year sunset on the prohibition on human somatic cell
nuclear transfer technology. The sunset provision would ensure a
continuing examination of the risks and benefits of this, while being
free from the concern that someone will use it prematurely.
- Permit somatic cell nuclear transfer using human cells for the
purpose of developing stem cell (unspecialized cells capable of giving
rise to specific cells and tissue) technology to prevent and treat
serious and life-threatening diseases and other medical conditions,
including the treatment of cancer, diabetes, genetic diseases, and
spinal cord injuries and for basic research that could lead to such
treatments.
- Strike the bill's criminal penalties and instead make any property,
real or personal, derived from or used to commit violations of the Act
subject to forfeiture to the United States.
- Strike the bill's provisions establishing a new Commission to
Promote a National Dialogue on Bioethics. The new Commission would
needlessly duplicate the mission of the President's National Bioethics
Advisory Commission.
The President's proposal, which in many ways is reflected in S. 1602
sponsored by Senators Feinstein and Kennedy, would prohibit any attempt to
create a human being using somatic cell nuclear transfer, provide for
further review of the ethical and scientific issues associated with the use
of somatic cell nuclear transfer, and protect important biomedical
research.
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