HR 1608 IH

To amend title 18 of the United States Code to prohibit human cloning.

April 26, 2001

Mr. EHLERS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

To amend title 18 of the United States Code to prohibit human cloning.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:

(1) Genetic science, including cloning technology and stem cell research, holds great promise for medical breakthroughs, including cures and treatments for diseases.

(2) Scientists should be encouraged to use cloning technologies with plants and animals in order to discover agricultural benefits for mankind.

(3) Scientists should continue to pursue research that uses cloning technologies to clone tissues, molecules, cells, and DNA.

(4) However, while the possibilities of scientific experimentation normally are beneficial and limitless, there are times when society--through the governmental process--can and should place limits on scientific experimentation. Such is the case with human cloning.

(5) Human cloning raises serious moral, ethical, societal, and safety concerns that necessitate a legislative ban.

SEC. 3. HUMAN CLONING PROHIBITED.

(a) IN GENERAL- Chapter 89 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

`Sec. 1822. Human cloning

`(a) IN GENERAL- Whoever, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, knowingly replaces the nucleus of an oocyte with the nucleus of a human somatic cell shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.

`(b) EXCEPTION- Subsection (a) shall not apply if, prior to replacement of the nucleus of the oocyte, the nucleus of the human somatic cell has been modified so that the cell cannot develop to completion.

`(c) DEFINITIONS- In this section--

`(1) the term `somatic cell' means any cell other than a sperm or oocyte; and

`(2) the term `oocyte' means an egg cell.'.

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 89 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

`Sec. 1822. Human cloning'.

END