ml> U.S. Congressman Cliff Stearns (FL06)- Press Release

NEWS FROM

North Central Florida's Congressman

CLIFF STEARNS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 2001		 CONTACT: PAUL FLUSCHE
(202) 225-5744

STEARNS URGES SENATE TO ACT ON BANNING HUMAN CLONING

POINTS OUT IN PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY THE NEED TO PROTECT SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE

WASHINGTON, NOV. 28, 2001 - Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) today participated in a press conference in response to the recent announcement by Advanced Cell Technology that it had cloned a human embryo. "Advanced Cell Technology positions the product of its research as 'only cellular life...not human life'," noted Stearns. "Still, building a life, whether you want to call it a 'cellular life' or a 'human life' to serve as a discardable donor is not moral science." Stearns joined other members in urging the Senate to act on legislation banning human cloning.

The House passed H.R. 2505, the Human Cloning Prohibition Act, in July to ban human cloning for therapeutic and reproductive purposes. Advanced Cell Technology cloned the human embryo to harvest stem cells for research on replacing tissues in patients suffering from various degenerative diseases. Said Stearns, "Extracting a stem cell from an embryo requires destroying an embryo that is developing toward a fetus, then an infant, then a child, and then an adult." Stearns pointed out the successful use of stem cells from alternative sources, adults and umbilical cord blood, in treating diseases. "These alternative sources have been used successfully in treating diabetes, spinal cord injuries, and blindness," added Stearns.

The other purpose behind human cloning is reproductive, which brings up other moral and legal concerns. "The cloning of a human would dramatically alter society's perception of what it means to be a human being. There is also the question about a cloned individual's personal identity, uniqueness, and individuality. Cloning would degrade the value of life in general, and especially for clones. This is no longer speculation - cloning has produced a human embryo. We must move quickly to ban this activity and to preserve the sanctity of human life."

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