Washington D.C. - Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) today spoke on the House floor in favor of vital medical research and against H.R. 534, the Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2003. Earlier this month, she led the efforts to amend the bill in the Judiciary Committee to ban human cloning, but to allow important research. The following is her statement:

"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 H.R. 534 goes too far. It halts the progress of medical research by banning somatic cell nuclear transfer for research and medical treatments. This research has the promise to cure diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and diabetes.

"Americans should ask themselves why the proponents of this bill would want to ban such research? The answer is simple. They want to impose their religious beliefs on the entire country. This country reflects the diverse religious beliefs found all over the world. Some, like the authors of this bill, believe that all cloning is wrong. Others believe that research cloning should be allowed. These are all legitimate views, and it is wrong to use the political power of one group to criminalize the beliefs of another.

"To better understand the real issue involved in this debate, it is important to understand what research cloning is. Somatic cell nuclear transfer has six steps:

1) A woman donates an egg.
2) A patient donates a somatic cell, like a skin cell.
3) The nucleus is removed from the egg.
4) The nucleus from the patient's skin cell is inserted into the egg.
5) The egg is then stimulated to induce it to divide.
6) The egg begins to divide, creating stem cells that are identical to the patient's own cells.

"So we're talking about the creation of cells in a petri dish…not bringing a child into this world. That is why research cloning is supported by some of the most ardent pro-life conservatives, like Senator Hatch and former Senator Connie Mack who said:

'Anyone who would ban research on embryonic stem cells will be responsible for harm done to real live postnatal sentient beings who might be helped by this research.'

"Why is this process important? Scientists believe that these stem cells are less likely to be rejected after transplant, since they have the same genetic properties as the recipient. They could also help scientists learn how and why diseases occur. They also have important advantages over adult stem cells, which cannot develop into as many cell types and which cannot be generated in the same quantities in the lab.

"That is why this bill is opposed by almost every organization representing patients and researchers, including Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation, Biotechnology Industry Association, Society for Women's Health Research, Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, and the Alliance for Aging Research.

"This debate boils down to one question: Should an embryonic stem cell, with no central nervous system and no chance of developing into a fetus, have the same rights as a child suffering from juvenile diabetes? I don't think so. I urge you not to rob sick Americans of their hope for a cure."