"We will continue to properly fund this crucial research, but it must advance the cause of life without sacrificing some lives to better others."

Where The Rubber Meets The
Road ­Cloning On The Horizon
Senators Hatch, Thurmond, Gordon Smith and Mack Forfeit Pro-Life Claims 
Three Republican U.S. Senators, forfeiting their former claims to be pro-life, have endorsed the killing of human embryos so their stem cells can be used for scientific research. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Strom Thurmond (R-SC), and Gordon Smith (R-OR) have sent a letter to President Bush asking him to approve federal funding, which is currently prohibited by law, of embryonic stem cell research. Former Republican Senator from Florida Connie Mack abandoned his claim to pro-life status by writing a column published in The Wall Street Journal (6/19/01) in which he argues for using what he calls ³fertilized eggs² to obtain stem cells for research purposes. Their comments to the press illustrate the amazing degree of ignorance that exists among these men regarding the nature of the human embryo, and indeed, the process of human development. We will say it one more time: When a 23-chromosome egg is united with a 23- chromosome sperm, a 46-chromosome, single cell human being is generated. That single cell contains the DNA of that person in his or her totality. Cell division occurs rapidly as human development continues throughout all its stages until natural death. When you kill an embryo you kill a unique, individual human being. You can¹t obtain embryonic stem cells without killing the human embryo.

These men are ignoring the facts:

There is no such thing as a "fertilized egg." Once the egg and sperm have united (fertilization) neither egg nor sperm exists. A new, unique, individual single-cell human being of the species homo sapiens is in existence, who is correctly referred to as a human embryo.

The single cell rapidly divides to the 8, 16, 32 cell stage and so on, as the process of human develop- ment continues toward birth.

When the cells are removed from the developing embryo, he dies.

Senators Hatch, Thurmond, Gordon Smith, and anyone who has ever lived has gone through the processes of human development, including the embryonic stage.

People are not property. People are not to be ³used² for the benefit of others, like a manufactured product.

Every one of the embryos in question is a tiny person. To ignore this truth is to deny the fundamental principle that the right to life is inherent and inalien- able ­ it cannot be given or taken away. The intrinsic right to life is a part of our humanity from the moment we come into existence.

According to scientists, support for embryonic stem cell research will inevitably lead to the cloning of human beings so their stem cells can be "harvested."

The greatest promise in stem cell research is occurring with cells taken from adult tissue, placentas, umbilical cords and human fat. Let¹s support and fund research that harms no one, but has the potential to help many who suffer from debilitating and deadly diseases.

Senator Gordon Smith
Phone: 202/224-3753;
Fax: 202/228-3997;
E-Mail: Oregon@gsmith.senate.gov.

FROZEN EMBRYOS — A DILEMMA  
QUESTION: What is to be done with the 100,000 + embryonic babies who are currently frozen in liquid nitrogen tanks in in vitro fertilization clinics?

ANSWER: Every one of those tiny embryonic babies has two parents who should be held responsible for his or her well-being. They should be implanted and every effort should be made to ensure a safe delivery.

If their genetic parents won't take responsibility for them, other couples, unable to have children, may adopt the children through the "Snowflakes" Program of the Nightlight Christian Adoption Agency in California (http://www.snowflakes.org). At least two families have done so, and completed all the requirements for adoption in their home states. Pro-life Members of Congress have sent a letter to President Bush asking him to meet three of the children who were adopted as embryos: Hannah, who is 2 and a half, and Mark and Luke, who are eight-month-old twins. While this method of adoption is said to carry with it some grave risks, it points out the fact that none of these children should be considered ³left over² to be ³used² for the benefit of someone else.

In the end, babies frozen in liquid nitrogen will deteriorate and die, a natural conclusion to an unnatural process. Ethically and morally, this is far preferable to killing them for their stem cells.

Consider this: In a hospital ward full of comatose patients who appear unable to survive, should scientists be allowed to kill them in order to do research on their organs and tissues because they aren¹t expected to live? What about prisoners on death row? Should they be subjects for scientific experiments?

Whether or not privately funded unethical research on human subjects who happen to be embryos can be stopped, there is no way the taxpayers should be forced to pay for it.

President Bush must uphold the law prohibiting taxpayer funding of embryo experiments.

CONGRESS WATCH  
Important pro-life legislation is currently being considered in Congress. Please contact your U.S. Representatives and Senators with the following requests. Their district offices are listed in your phone book. Or, you may call the Capitol Switchboard at: 202/224-3121.

PLEASE CO-SPONSOR H.R. 1644, the Human Cloning Prohibition Act sponsored by Rep. Dave Weldon (R-FL) and S. 790, sponsored by Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS). This bill would prohibit the use of cloning technologies to create any human beings, including human embryos.

PLEASE OPPOSE H.R. 2172, the Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001. This bill is deceptively named and is sponsored by pro-abortion advocate Rep. Jim Greenwood (R-PA). It would allow the creation of human beings through cloning as long as the cloned embryo is killed. This "clone and kill" bill must be defeated.

The Gallup organization released a recent poll (June 7, 2001) showing that 89% of Americans say that the cloning of humans, if it becomes possible, should not be allowed.

A Congressional alert (6/11/01) from the Federal Legislative Office of the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) has this to say: "'In view of public opinion, it is not surprising that advocates of the clone-and-kill bills are using misleading language to persuade lawmakers to support these bills ­ for example, by saying that they would ³ban cloning of human beings² or ³ban reproductive cloning.'"

"In reality, these bills would do neither, because once a human embryo has been created, 'reproduction' has occurred, and a member of the species homo sapiens — a human being — exists. The clone-and-kill bills would allow researchers to 'reproduce' any number of human beings just as long as every one of them is killed prior to implantation in a woman's womb."

A report in The Seattle Times (6/1/01) quotes Dr. Francis Collins, director of the federal Human Genome Project: "Regardless of how you feel about the morality of it," he said, "the safety issues are huge. Animals that have been cloned are not normal — and that's not to mention all the stillborns." We ought to identify areas that we are not going to get into and say so publicly."

PLEASE SUPPORT H.R.2175, the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, introduced by Reps. Steve Chabot (R-OH), Sue Myrick (R-NC), and Melissa Hart (R-PA). This bill would protect babies born alive, including abortion survivors, and insure that every effort is made to save their lives. Currently, unwanted babies who are born alive are left to die in institutions such as Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois.

PLEASE SUPPORT H.R. 2096, the Responsible Stem Cell Research Act of 2001, by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ). This bill authorizes $30 million for ethical stem cell research, requiring that the cells used be taken from adult tissue, umbilical cord and placenta blood obtained from live births. It would also establish a stem cell bank at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which would collect blood from umbilical cords and placentas that could be matched with individuals for whom treatment with stem cells may be beneficial.

PLEASE OPPOSE H.R. 2059 , The Stem Cell Research Act of 2001, by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), and S. 723 by Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA). This bill would change current law, which prohibits federal funding of "any research in which a human embryo or embryos are destroyed, discarded, or knowingly subjected to risk of injury or death." Defeat of this legislation is crucial to the pro-life cause.

 
VIRGINIA - Pro-Lifer Wins Congressional Seat ­ Former state senator Randy Forbes, a pro-life Republican, won election to Congress in Virginia¹s 4th District in a special election held on Tuesday, June19. Mr. Forbes will take the seat vacated by the death of Democrat Rep. Norm Sisisky. RNC/Life PAC contributed to Congressman Forbes¹ campaign and we congratulate him on his victory. We look forward to hearing from him as a new voice for the right to life on the floor of the House of Representatives.

NEW JERSEY - "Schundler Wins Republican Primary: Liberal Republican Establishment Toppled" was the headline in a June 27 press release issued by Marie Tasy, Director of Public and Legislative Affairs of New Jersey Right to Life PAC. Addressing the fact that the New Jersey Republican Party backed former Congressman and pro-abortion liberal Bob Franks over pro-life Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler in the race for the Republican nomination for Governor, Mrs. Tasy said: "Bret Schundler dispelled the myth that a candidate without Republican organization support can't win a state-wide primary. This election sends a wake-up call to the liberal wing of the Party that the majority of Republican primary voters are pro-life. Bret Schundler has proven that the right candidate with the right message can win."

NORTH CAROLINA - Elizabeth Dole is No Jesse Helms — Media speculation is growing that pro-life, pro-U.S. Constitution, pro-U.S. sovereignty Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) may decide not to seek re-election. Spokesmen for Senator Helms deny these reports and we hope and pray that he will run again. Republican leaders reportedly have talked about Elizabeth Dole running for the seat if Helms retires. (The Dallas Morning News 6/24/01) Mrs. Dole is originally from North Carolina. Her short-lived campaign for the Republican presidential nomination should be enough to convince Party leaders to stop efforts to recruit her. Mrs. Dole¹s pro-abortion-choice views and lack of substance on critical issues make her incapable of filling Senator Helms very big shoes.