WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback testified at a Senate Appropriations Labor-HHS Subcommittee hearing on cloning today. Brownback supports a complete ban on human cloning. A portion of his testimony follows:

“The issue of human cloning is an issue of vast historical significance; and one that should give us all pause. It is, as I have stated before, a debate concerning the moral status of the human embryo. Many agree that the human embryo does have a moral status -- but what is that moral status; and what level of protection should we afford the human embryo? It is also a debate over whether the young human is a person, or a piece of property.

“These are some questions that we must debate and resolve before we can even attempt to decide the issue of human cloning. Despite some similarities, this debate is not a debate about abortion, primarily because the creation of the embryo takes place in a lab, outside the womb of its mother. Perhaps this is why we have an interesting coalition forming of groups who are strongly opposed to abortion, groups who support abortion, environmentalists, and others. It is clear that people from various walks of life, religious perspectives and ideologies oppose human cloning for reasons that are as diverse as their backgrounds.

“A rule was issued under the Endangered Species Act, which, ‘defines the term 'harm' to include any act which actually kills or injures fish or wildlife, and emphasizes that such acts may include significant habitat modification or degradation that significantly impairs essential behavioral patterns of fish or wildlife.’

“With human cloning we are talking about more than mere habitat modification – we are talking about modification of the human species in ways that are irresponsible, and with outcomes we cannot predict. The law punishes those who modify or degrade the habitat of fish or wildlife. Will it punish those that modify or degrade our own humanity?

“The technology is now moving faster than expected, and our ability to consider a full and permanent ban on human cloning is moving slower than it should.

“I urge my colleagues, and in particular the Majority Leader to call up HR 2505 and pass a permanent ban on human cloning, or at a minimum a six month moratorium so that we can restore the status quo in our country until such time as the Senate can debate the issue.

“I do not know how this debate will be resolved, but I do know that history is watching what we do today and it will record our actions for the benefit of our ancestors. Let it be a history of which we can all be proud.”