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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 24, 2001 		Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

STATEMENT BY
HHS SECRETARY TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Regarding House Judiciary Committee's Ban on Human Cloning

The House Judiciary Committee should be applauded for the action it took today to ban human cloning. The bill adopted puts Congress on the right track toward prohibiting the cloning of human beings by somatic cell nuclear transfer. The bill is consistent with the Administration's view that the use of this cloning technique to create an embryo for reproduction or for research should not be permitted.

Supporting medical research to combat human disease and infirmity is immensely important to this Administration. However, science does not and cannot proceed in a moral vacuum. The ethical issues posed by human cloning and the implications for the child created are particularly troubling.

The Administration looks forward to working with all Members of Congress towards our mutual goal to ban human cloning while allowing ethical research to flourish.

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Last revised: July 24, 2001