A bipartisan group of U.S. senators on Thursday introduced a bill (S 658) that would ban human reproductive cloning and loosen federal restrictions on funding for human embryonic stem cell research, Reuters Health reports (Rovner, Reuters Health, 4/21). Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) introduced the Human Cloning Ban and Stem Cell Research Protection Act of 2005, saying they will "push harder" this year than in past years to pass the bill and expect increased support from their colleagues, according to the AP/San Diego Union-Tribune (Werner, AP/San Diego Union-Tribune, 4/21). President Bush's embryonic stem cell policy -- which he announced on Aug. 9, 2001 -- limits federal funding for embryonic stem cell research to stem cell lines created on or before that date. Critics of Bush's policy have said that the embryonic stem cell lines available for federally funded research are not biologically diverse, are contaminated with nonhuman material and are useless for research into possible cures for degenerative diseases. However, opponents of the research say it is immoral because it destroys human embryos (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 3/25).

Bill Details
The bill would make human reproductive cloning a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison or fines of up to $1 million or three times the profit resulting from the violation, according to a Feinstein release. The bill also would allow for embryonic stem cell research with informed consent from embryo donors and prohibit the purchase or sale of unfertilized eggs. Under the measure, research also would be prohibited on embryos older than 14 days (Feinstein release, 4/21). The bill also would task NIH with helping to establish ethical guidelines for embryonic stem cell research, according to the AP/Union-Tribune (AP/San Diego Union-Tribune, 4/21).

Sponsors' Comments
According to Feinstein, the bill is necessary because many "prominent scientists" are leaving the United States for countries where more research funding is available and private research is being conducted without "sufficient" ethical guidelines, Reuters Health reports (Reuters Health, 4/21). "American scientists have gone to other countries, ... [a]nd there has been a chilling effect in this country, where scientists are worried about taking on cutting-edge research," Feinstein said, adding, "There is no question that this country needs an effective stem cell policy -- both to provide federal funding for viable stem cell lines and to provide federal ethical guidelines. Passing this legislation would go a long way to filling the void" (Feinstein release, 4/21). Specter said that the bill's supporters "may well be to the point where we have 60 votes" needed to break a potential filibuster in the Senate. Hatch added that public opinion on stem cell research is "moving their way," according to Reuters Health. "As I travel across my home state of Utah, more and more Utahns, whether they are pro-life or not, come up to me and say, 'Orrin, we're with you on this. You're doing the right thing'" (Reuters Health, 4/21).