U.S. House Passes Human Cloning Ban

On The U.S. House of Representatives voted to outlaw human cloning for both reproductive and biomedical research purposes during its February 27 session, passing the Weldon-Stupak Human Cloning Prohibition Act (H.R. 534) by an overwhelming 241-155 margin.

All Republicans in the New Jersey delegation voted for the ban and were joined by Democrat Pascrell. Voting against the ban were Democrats Andrews, Holt, Menendez, Pallone, and Rothman, with Payne abstaining.

The vote specifically outlaws the procedure known as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in which a human ovum, stripped of its genetic material, is fertilized by a cell from the skin or some other part of a donor’s body. The resulting human embryo is the genetic duplicate of the donor and can be used for either reproduction or biomedical research. Cloning for both purposes is banned under the Weldon-Stupak bill, while the Greenwood Substitute, which the House rejected, would allow cloning for the purpose of creating embryo farms for the production of stem cells. Because the harvesting of stem cells destroys human embryos, it has been labeled the “clone and kill” procedure.

Supporters of cloning have often tried to cloud the issue by claiming that so-called therapeutic cloning for research purposes only produces cells. Opponents have gathered ample testimony from experts that SCNT performed for any purpose produces a human embryo which could be implanted in a womb and brought to term.

President Bush strongly supports a ban on human cloning.