It was the first congressional panel to act on the controversial issue. The bill, which passed on a voice vote, prohibits the use of federal money for experimentation with cell transfer technology to produce an embryo that is a human clone. Federal rules already ban federal funding of embryo research.
"I think it is extremely important for us to make a statement to society that human cloning is not acceptable in the United States of America and that we are going to prohibit federal funding for research on human cloning," Representative Vernon Ehlers, a Michigan Republican and the chief sponsor of the bill, said.
The bill does allow for continuation of federal research on plant and animal cloning. It also does not affect research at biotech companies and other academic institutions, which don't receive federal funding.
Once the legislation is approved by the House Commerce Committee, it will go to the House for a floor vote.
File posted Aug. 4, 1997