SENATE VOTES DOWN CLONING BILL

February 12, 1998

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Reuters) -- A Senate vote Wednesday blocked further legislative action on S.1601, a Republican bill to ban somatic cell nuclear transfer -- or human cloning.

The vote of 42-54 meant that the bill's proponents did not get the requisite 60 votes needed to proceed with floor action. Democrats considered the Republican bill, sponsored by Kit Bond (R-MO), Bill Frist (R-TN) and Judd Gregg (R-NH), too broad.

Opponents of S.1601, which called for a widespread ban on cloning, say that the bill could have been interpreted to mean a ban on stem cell research, skin cell cloning for grafts and other experimental procedures. The bill was also opposed by many in the medical community.

A narrower bill, sponsored by Democrats Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA), calls for a ban on the creation of embryos. It remains on the floor.

The president of the American Society of Microbiology, Dr. Stanley Falkow, has called for care in crafting restrictions on cloning research.

In a letter sent February 9th to all members of the Senate, Falkow noted that human cells are being used as part of research of gene therapy, burn therapy, and cancer treatment. "We urge, therefore, that Congress judiciously consider the complex scientific issues involved in this legislation because of the dire consequences it may have on future advances in biomedical research and treatments for disease,'' he said.