HARKIN TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION BANNING
HUMAN CLONING
Ban Would Allow Potential
Lifesaving Research to Continue
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4,
2001
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Harkin
(D-IA), chairman of the Senate Health Appropriations
Subcommittee, today announced he will soon introduce
legislation that will ban human cloning. The Human
Cloning Ban and Stem Cell Research Protection Act of
2001 is designed to draw a distinction between the
process of human cloning and the potentially lifesaving
process of therapeutic cellular transfer (TCT). Those
who violate the ban would be subject to penalties of up
to 10 years in jail and civil penalties of at least $1
million.
"Human reproductive cloning is simply wrong," Harkin
said. "We must understand that there is a distinct line
separating human reproductive cloning and the potential
lifesaving research of TCT. My legislation would make
that line an 'iron curtain,' imposing strict criminal
penalties on any.person who would twist this lifesaving
science for wrongful purposes."
Stem cell research, which Harkin supports with
restrictions, involves taking the DNA out of a human egg
and replacing it with the DNA of someone with a disease
like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, also known as
therapeutic cellular transfer. This legislation allows
such research to continue while prohibiting human
cloning as well as attempts to ship, receive or import
any products for the purpose of cloning.
