Zoe Lofgren: “Mr. Chairman, I, like the authors of H.R. 534, believe that we should outlaw human cloning. If we wanted to pass a bill…”

“Mr. Chairman, I, like the authors of H.R. 534, believe that we should outlaw human cloning. If we wanted to pass a bill that only prohibits human cloning, it would sail through Congress on a voice vote. But this bill goes too far. It halts the progress of medical research by banning somatic cell nuclear transfer for research and medical treatments. This research has promise for diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes and others. This bill criminalizes a scientific research process that takes place in a petri dish, regardless of the intent of the researcher or the inability of this process to result in the birth of a cloned child. The penalty for violating these provisions includes sanctions of a criminal fine and/or imprisonment for up to 10 years and a civil penalty of at least $1 million. This would represent an unprecedented intrusion of the criminal law into the scientific process. I think the science teachers of America may be pretty appalled at what they hear and see on this floor today. I think much that has been said and will be said reflects a profound ignorance about the science, about the current role of the FDA in their regulatory practices, but also Americans need to ask themselves why the proponents of this bill want to ban this research, and I think the answer is simple: They want to impose their religious beliefs on the entire country.”