Washington, DC - A measure to allow human cloning for research purposes that involves killing unborn children received no debate Thursday in the Senate after pro-life lawmakers proposed amendments to nullify it. The issue could have embroiled the Senate in intense debate over the meaning of life at a time when lawmakers are hurrying to complete must-pass spending bills and terrorism-related legislation.
Senator Arlen Specter attached the dangeorus human cloning provision to a much-needed $123.1 billion measure funding federal education, labor and health programs for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1. Senators were debating the overall bill Thursday.
If lawmakers got into the stem cell discussion, ``I don't know how long it will take to debate,'' Specter said.
Pro-life Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) said he would delay the bill by offering several amendments, including one on banning human cloning. Specter and Brownback said they had reached an agreement with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) to withdraw their issues until the Senate had time to hold extensive debate, probably early next year.
"Getting Specter to drop his language is a big victory for us," says Erik Hotmire, a spokesman for Brownback. "We look forward to the debate next year and the opportunity for the whole Senate to debate whether a person can also be a piece of property."
House Majority Leader Dick Armey also has demanded action. "Scientists have taken a big step towards creating the world's first cloned monkey and it's feared a cloned human is soon to follow," he said today. "Time is of the essence. This mad science isn't standing still. The Senate shouldn't either. It should act now and decisively pass legislation to ban human cloning."
Now it looks like it will finally have the chance some time in the next six months.
The Bush administration had recommended a veto unless Brownback's pro-life amendments were adopted.
Pro-Life Infonet
02. November 2001