12-01-2001

HEALTH: Human Cloning Foes Leap Into Action

Following an announcement by Massachusetts scientists that they have taken
the initial steps toward cloning the first humans, congressional advocates
of a ban on human cloning this week renewed their push to schedule a
Senate vote on the matter before Congress leaves for the year. But so far,
the efforts appear to be in vain. The House overwhelmingly approved a ban
on human cloning in July, and Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., Rep. Christopher
H. Smith, R-N.J., and a diverse coalition of interest groups this week
called on the Senate to follow suit as soon as possible. "We must ban
all human cloning, whether it is for reproductive purposes or for
destructive experimental purposes," Brownback said at a news
conference. Senate Majority Leader Thomas A. Daschle, D-S.D., has promised
Brownback a vote on the ban in February or March, and does not appear
compelled to speed up that schedule, given the big backlog in the Senate.
Still, Brownback, Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., and others are pressing
leaders and appropriators to make room for an anti-cloning amendment on
one of this year's remaining must-pass bills. "If it is going to be
added," said Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., "it would require the
intervention of the Speaker and the [Senate] Majority
Leader."


April Fulton/CongressDaily

National Journal