In the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, I have come to realize how blessed I am. I think most Americans have. As a proud father, grandfather and great-grandfather, I know how precious the gift of life is. Yet, I believe that the process of cloning essentially disregards this respect for life.
With all due respect to my colleagues on the committee, I believe a more appropriate title for today's hearing would be: "Must we sacrifice human life in the name of research?"
While I strongly encourage medical research, I don't believe that human life should be created and destroyed in the process. Don't mistake my words. I believe in the possibilities of stem cell research. Stem cell research may eventually lead to therapies that could be used to treat diseases that afflict approximately 128 million Americans.
However, this life-saving research needs to be separated from cloning. The two are not interdependent. The promises of stem cell research are endless; the promises of cloning are dishonest.
I support stem cell research using alternative sources of stem cells. Blood from umbilical cords contains a rich supply of stem cells that can be used for biomedical research. Researchers are currently exploring applications of cord blood in treating conditions such as multiple sclerosis, arthritis, lupus, Alzheimer's, and diabetes. But we need cures, not clones. Investing in alternative sources means we don't have to sacrifice human life.
I realize that since September 11, Congress has been necessarily occupied with matters of national security. Yet, there is no better time than the present to pass a ban on human cloning and reaffirm to the American people that life is not a tinker toy. It's a precious gift.