House Resolution To Ban Cloning

[Steven Edwards]

It appears that the hearing about HR 2505 has been postponed. It was supposed to be talked about tomorrow, February 5th, but according to This Week's House Schedule (http://www.house.gov/house/floor/thisweek.htm), it will not be. That gives us a little more time to plan.

-Steven

[Steven Edwards]

The letter I will be sending my representatives is as follows. Please make suggestions as the majority of this may be part of the form letter I put up.


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Dear Representative:

I am writing to express my dislike for HR 2505, the Human Cloning Prohibition Act. While I agree that reproductive cloning of a human being is wrong, I recognize the potential that therapeutic cloning offers for the future of medical research. Potential? What potential does therapeutic cloning offer?

Therapeutic cloning, otherwise known as somatic cell nuclear transfer, can be used to provide a virtually unlimited supply of embryonic stem cells for scientists to use. These stem cells, created through therapeutic cloning, can be used to help treat a plethora of diseases. Parkinsons, cancer, stroke, spinal cord injuries, and so many more illnesses with no real hope of treatment today may finally have a chance of helping the millions and millions of people currently suffering through these conditions.

Don't shut out that very real possibility of hope for those people. Those very real human beings that see a potential therapy in the not-so-distant future because of stem cells and therapeutic cloning.

What can you do? You could ban therapeutic cloning and kill any hope of future therapies; destroy it while it is in its own embryonic stage. How apropos. A viable option would be to ban the act of implanting the cloned cells into a uterus and to enact a wait-and-see period that will allow scientists to work until more information can be gathered and an informed decision can be reached.

Why is this important to me? Five years ago, one week before my senior year of high school, I suffered a traumatic brain and spinal cord injury after being ejected from my car. I spent the next six months in the hospital learning how to read, speak, think -- even trying to breathe -- all over again. To this day, I remain paralyzed from the neck down. I require assistance to eat, to breathe, to get dressed, to use the bathroom, and every other quote-unquote little thing that I used to take for granted.

I strongly believe that research involving therapeutic cloning will help expedite a therapy that will allow me the independence to lead a relatively normal life and become a productive citizen. My votes this coming election season will be heavily influenced by the outcome of HR 2505. I truly hope that you will see the good that allowing research into therapeutic cloning will provide to myself and so many others.

Sincerely,

Steven Edwards

[Wise Young]

Some people might be interested in the results of the a cloning poll on internet
http://www.reproductivecloning.net/interactive/poll/vote.html

Is reproductive human cloning inevitable?
Yes, the technology is already here Â*54.3% 1248
Maybe, it depends Â*34.2% 785
No, humans will never be cloned Â*6.4% 148
Don't know Â*5.1% 117


Will genetic technologies (like genetic engineering and cloning) primarily benefit or primarily harm mankind?
They will primarily benefit mankind Â*26.1% 599
Depends on the technology and the situations it's used in Â*53.1% 1220
They will primarily harm mankind Â*16.9% 388
Don't know Â*3.9% 89


Should infertile couples (unable to have a child via any other method) have the choice to use human cloning technology to conceive a child?
Yes, they should have the choice Â*44.3% 1058
Maybe, it depends Â*15% 359
No, they should not have the choice Â*37% 883
Don't know Â*3.7% 89


Should we be cloning animals?
Yes, there are many benefits from this research Â*49.7% 1146
Maybe, it depends Â*26.4% 610
No, we should not be cloning animals Â*16.7% 386
Don't know Â*7.2% 165


Do you support therapeutic human cloning for stem cells?
Yes, many diseases may be cured by this research Â*51.9% 1166
Maybe, it depends Â*22.2% 500
No, human embryos are destroyed in this research Â*21% 471
Don't know Â*4.9% 111


When do you think the first cloned human child will be born?
Already born Â*16.3% 351
2001-2005 Â*48% 1030
After 2005 Â*21.5% 461
Never Â*8.8% 190
Don't know Â*5.4% 116
Total:Â*2502

[marmalady]

Hi, Steven,

Great job! There's a topic here, 'when were you injured'; I think it makes a powerful statement, and brings home the fact that 'spinal cord injuries' are people, not just an item on a page. That real people are affected. I wonder if, (with the permission of the people who posted their stories) the entire post could be included in your letter?

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Tough times don't last - tough people do.