U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chair of the House Bipartisan Pro-Life Caucus, today issued the following statement in opposition to H.R. 2560, a bill that disingenuously claims to ban human cloning while instead encouraging human embryo destruction:

    “Congress today rejected the clone-and-kill bill offered by Rep. Diana DeGette. A clear majority of the House saw through this misleading effort to allow human cloning while disguising it as a ban.”

    “This bill doesn’t ban any human cloning at all—absolutely none. Researchers are absolutely free—and given the green light—to clone human life to their hearts content so long as they kill and destroy the cloned embryo at some point—perhaps weeks after its creation.” 

    “This phony ban sanctions unlimited human cloning for research.”

    “As a matter of fact, the legislation makes it a crime to allow a cloned human being to survive past a certain unspecified point. In other words, this bizarre piece of legislation would make it illegal—not to kill a cloned human being—and the penalties are stiff up to 10 years in prison and a $10 million fine.”

    “Even more bizarre, under the bill, if a woman was to have a cloned human embryo implanted in her womb, she could go to jail for up to 10 years and/or be fined up to $10 million – Is that something we want to vote for? I think not.”

    “This legislation begs the question why aren’t you bringing a total ban to the floor?” 

    “The United States should join many countries—including Canada, Germany, Italy and France—in completely banning all cloning.”

    “I urge my colleagues—let’s pass a real ban on human cloning not this phony bill.”

    H.R. 2560 was considered today under suspension of the rules and not only failed to get the 2/3’s majority necessary for passage under suspension, but even failed to get a simple majority of the House. It was defeated 204-213.