Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 1329.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to state my support for H.R. 1904 The Healthy Forests Restoration Act. Unfortunately, due to matters in my district I was not able to participate in this vote.

As a co-sponsor of H.R. 1904 I support this legislation because of the relief it provides to combat the challenges facing our forest system today. From hazardous fuel reduction to insect and disease infestation research, this bill gives our forest managers and our private citizens the money and technical assistance they need to help bring our forests back to health.

I believe H.R. 1904 will work to help alleviate the fire hazards that currently plague our forests. Our nation's forest system is overwhelmed with excess brush and foliage which create dangerous conditions with the dry summer season just around the corner. This bill provides thinning programs for up to 20 million acres of at-risk federal lands near communities and their water supplies.

H.R. 1904 also provides money and technical assistance to stop the growing problem of insect and disease infestation. In Southeastern Michigan for example, Forest Service managers are battling the Emerald Ash Borer. This insect has decimated the population of ash trees located in a six county area. Luckily officials have responded quickly and we are in the process of containing that threat. H.R. 1904 will assist in our fight against invasive species like the Emerald Ash Borer and others around our country.

I am hopeful that the Senate will act quickly on this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the work and achievements of David Roberts, who since 1986 has served the people of Marquette County, Michigan, as Marquette County Clerk.

Dave Roberts is taking a well-earned retirement from public service after more than seventeen years of conscientious and devoted work for the people of Marquette County.

Those of us in government office know that public officials at the local level are on the true front lines of government service. Even if the County Clerk is not the person who created a law, engineered a road fix or streamlined a County budget, he or she is the face that most members of the public know and turn to when they have questions, complaints or, less often, compliments. The County Clerk is also the person that other elected officials look to for answers about County government issues.

Dave Roberts, as County Clerk has the lives of County residents in his keeping, in the form of public records such as birth, marriage, death and real estate filings. He acts as clerk of the County Board and, in Marquette County, as clerk of the circuit court.

Dave held this hot seat in Marquette County government with great dedication, composure and his ever present sense of humor. He filled his Clerk's responsibilities in a highly capable fashion, always keeping at the forefront his concern for others. Dave's way of dealing with people, whether they came to the Clerk's office on the warpath, or with a simple question, will be a great example and legacy for his successor. He leaves big shoes to fill.

Dave Roberts is a native of the Marquette area and graduated in 1965 from Negaunee high school. He earned his bachelor's degree from Northern Michigan University in 1974 and then worked toward a master's degree in creative writing. He also worked for Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. for twelve years before being appointed County Clerk in 1985 following the retirement of previous clerk Henry A. Skewis.

Dave served as president of the Michigan Association of County Clerks in 1995 and 1996. He was active in that association during his years as Marquette County Clerk, and in 2000 received the well-deserved honor of being named Michigan County Clerk of the Year by his fellow association members.

Congratulations also are due to Dave's wife Patricia and their four children, Sheri, Debi, Andrew and Jessica, who have supported Dave in his work and at home over the years. Pat herself is a big part of the community and has been a corrections officer at the Marquette Branch Prison for 18 years.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating Dave Roberts on his accomplishments and service as Marquette County Clerk, and to join me in wishing him great success in his writing, his travel, and even in improving his golf game--three things that he said he intends to spend some time on in retirement.

I hope that Marquette County has not seen the last of his contributions to civic life as well.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003. Science has revealed the far- reaching benefits of nanotechnology in recent years and I recognize the need for a more cooperative and focused approach.

I thank Science Committee Chairman Boehlert and Ranking Member Honda for their efforts to advance nanotechnology applications and to call for today's authorization of important nanotechnology research and development, ethical oversight, and expert advisory.

In my northern Michigan district, we have been proud witness to nanosystems research at internationally renowned Michigan Technological University. Located in Houghton, Michigan, Michigan Tech hosts one of the nation's foremost nanotechnology research centers, the Center for Mico- and Nanosystems Technology.

Michigan Tech has long distinguished itself as a leader in science and engineering projects and now steams ahead in the development of nanostructure and lightweight materials. They have shown particular success with metal hydrides, to provide safer and more efficient storage of hydrogen for clean-burning hydrogen-powered vehicles--both civilian and military. These lightweight, durable nanotech materials could prove additionally valuable to NASA spacecraft construction.

Michigan tech has also engaged in research to enable miniature medical implant devices and other nano-sized health care products which will improve the quality and reduce the

cost of health care and lead to overall economic growth as additional breakthroughs are made in this vital area.

With continued funding and bolstered federal resources, Michigan Tech has all the tools in place for promising technological advances in a diversity of nanotechnology applications.

I will continue to urge Congressional appropriators to remember smaller universities when it comes to doling out the federal funds and research contracts we provide in this authorization today and in the future. Michigan Tech, while only enrolling a total student body of 6300, is consistently ranked second in the nation--to only Georgia Tech--as the premier public technological university.

I pleased with the opportunity to recognize Michigan Tech for their contribution to our national research efforts and to support this important science legislation.

Mr. Chairman, I am on the floor here today to support an amendment that will simply clarify existing language in this bill. Our amendment is short and simple. It says that otherwise qualified organizations shall not be required as a condition of receiving assistance to endorse, utilize or participate in a prevention method or treatment program to which the organization has a religious or moral objection.

We should all be working together, Muslims and Catholics, to fight AIDS. In fact, Catholic organizations alone are caring for one in every four AIDS victims in the world. It makes no sense to disqualify them.

Our language will give organizations of all faith an opportunity to join in this monumental effort to fight the pandemic. This provision will make sure that we do not arbitrarily disqualify organizations that have proven their ability to provide excellent care to those afflicted with this dreaded disease. I congratulate my colleagues for joining together to address this tragedy that can no longer be ignored.

Mr. Speaker; I would like to recognize a group in my district whose volunteers put in hundreds of hours every year to raise money for local veterans while encouraging public remembrance of veterans on Memorial Day.

The Richard M. Jopling American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 44 of Marquette recently donated $3,500 in proceeds from its annual poppy sale to the D.J. Jacobetti Veterans Home in Marquette. This money--a truly remarkable sum--will let the Jacobetti Home purchase two portable WelchAllyn machines, used to monitor a patient's vital signs and provide an extra margin of safety for patients needing that support.

There could be no better time than the present, when the welfare of all our veterans and military personnel are in the minds of every American, to recognize the contributions of the Marquette American Legion Auxiliary No. 44. In these times of tight budgets, the efforts of these sterling volunteer service organizations are also critical to meeting the needs of our nation's veterans.

The sight of the Auxiliary's red crepe-paper poppies signals the arrival of spring in Marquette and also reminds the public of the sacrifices our veterans have made to protect our freedom.

Mr. Speaker, American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 44 of Marquette also sponsors birthday parties for residents of the Jacobetti Home every month of the year.

In addition to the poppy sales and the birthday parties, the Auxiliary supplies gifts for the Jacobetti Home Christmas ``Gift Shop'' and sponsors a ladies friendship group at the veteran's facility.

Mr. Speaker, the world is a better place thanks to groups like American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 44 of Marquette. I ask you and our colleagues to join me in recognizing and applauding their efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to a man who is a longtime activist in labor and community service in the Upper Peninsula. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor my good friend, Gary Quick of Kipling, Michigan.

This is not the first tribute I have done for Gary, but his election to the Upper Peninsula Labor Hall of Fame is an appropriate time to once again reflect on Gary's devotion to his country, his union and his community.

Gary Quick was born in Eagle, Michigan in 1940 and soon moved with his family to Rapid River, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. After graduation from Rapid River High School, he began working as a sub- assembler at the Harnischfeger Corp. plant in Escanaba.

His leadership potential surfaced quickly, and within just a few years Gary's co-workers at United Auto Workers Local 632 elected him as a steward of the Local. In 1967 he was elected Local 632 Vice President, and in 1969, he was elected Local President.

Between 1966 and 1983, Gary Quick served as a delegate to the UAW's constitutional conventions and was involved with UAW matters at the national level. He also served as a delegate for the Delta County, Michigan, Trades and Labor Council from 1975 until 1984.

In April 1984, Gary's national work with the UAW earned him an appointment as an international representative for the Region 1-D UAW office in Escanaba. In that role, he successfully negotiated union contracts in many employment settings, including health care, education, automotive and aerospace industries. He retired from the UAW in June 2002.

Gary Quick also served his country and his community. He was a United States Army Reservist from 1963 to 1969. He served on the Delta County Road Commission from 1977 to 1982, and was a member of the Blue Cross/ Blue Shield Advisory Board, the Labor-Management Board, and the Private Industry Council.

Mr. Speaker, Gary has gone above and beyond the call of duty as a public servant. His work for the labor movement, for his union colleagues and for his community have been an inspiration to all who worked with him in these endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, on April 26, 2003, at a ceremony in Marquette, Michigan, the Upper Peninsula Labor Hall of Fame will induct Gary Quick as a member in recognition of his many accomplishments and long years of service. I ask you and my House colleagues to join me in saluting him on this well-deserved honor.

Mr. Speaker I rise today to honor Jerry D. Lynch, State Commander of the Michigan American Legion, for his tireless service on behalf of all veterans and active duty military personnel through the nation's largest wartime veterans' organization, the American Legion.

I have known and worked with Jerry Lynch for more than a dozen years, both during my time as a Michigan State Representative, and as a U.S. Representative. He has been a champion of veterans' causes for all of those years, and for many years before.

He is devoted to his community. It is no surprise to me that Jerry's first official act as Michigan State Commander after being elected by delegates at the American Legion State Convention in 2002 was to lead his home town Fourth of July parade in Daggett, Michigan.

Jerry knows that bringing the ideals of the American Legion and its goals and values back home to each community in Michigan is critically important to making sure that the contributions of our veterans and our active duty military men and women are honored in every day life. He is a shining example of those ideals.

When our fighting men and women have been performing so valiantly in Iraq and the welfare of all our veterans is on the minds of every American, it is particularly important to recognize the ideals of the American Legion as exemplified in Jerry Lynch.

State Commander Lynch, a Vietnam era veteran of U.S. Navy service, has been active at many levels of the American Legion. He has held positions at the state level, including Zone Commander, Membership Director and has served on the Americanism and New Posts Committees. Prior to that, he served as Commander of the Upper Peninsula Association, was a District Committeeman, and held several offices at Stephenson, Michigan Post 43, including that of Commander.

Jerry's lovely wife Judy is now the Legion's ``First Lady'' and will contribute her own special brand of activism and support to Legion causes. The Lynches have three children, Kim, Kelly and Donald.

Jerry's talents for leadership and service have been his great gift to the American Legion, and to Upper Peninsula veterans in particular. No task was too small--or too big--to get Jerry's attention, if it needed doing. He always comes through.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today asking that you and our House colleagues join me in relaying our respect and our appreciation to Jerry D. Lynch, who exemplifies the American Legion ideal, but more importantly, who is a perfect example of the human ideals of service to his fellow man and remembrance of those who have served before him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the live and achievements of Clinton Fair, who will be honored posthumously for his service to the cause of American working men and women with induction into the Upper Peninsula Labor Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Marquette, Michigan on April 26, 2003.

Clinton Fair earned degrees from Eastern Michigan University and the University of Wisconsin before taking his first job as a schoolteacher in St. Ignace, Michigan in 1931. He taught there and in Dearborn, Michigan before and after World War II. During that war, he served for five years with distinction in the U.S. Navy, leaving service as a lieutenant commander.

After the war, Clinton Fair began his career in organized labor as a delegate to the local branch of the American Federation of Teachers in association with the Detroit unit of the American Federation of Labor.

In 1947, he began working as assistant to John Reid, secretary of the Michigan Federation of Labor, and was soon named director of the Michigan Labor League's political action committee. In that capacity, he worked on the successful 1948 gubernatorial campaign of G. Mennen ``Soapy'' Williams.

After the election, Clinton served on Governor Williams's staff until 1951, when he returned to the Michigan Federation of Labor as its legislative director. In 1953, he became education director for Region 7 of the Allied Industrial Workers. From there, he rose to the national labor scene and became secretary of the American Federation of Teachers.

Over the next twenty years, Clinton Fair contributed his considerable skills to his labor brethren in many capacities, including work on the Social Security task force of the national AFL-CIO in Washington, D.C., a stint as legislative representative for the California State AFL-CIO, and a final term at the AFL-CIO national office before retiring in 1975.

Coming full circle, he moved back to St. Ignace in retirement, but for Clinton Fair, retirement was not an entirely accurate description. He continued his work on behalf of labor, handling special assignments for the Michigan and national AFL-CIO offices.

He also branched out into community service, and was elected to the Mackinac County Board of Commissioners, serving in the capacity until 1980. His death in 1982 was a severe loss to his family, his community, his colleagues and the friends he made over a lifetime of hard work and dedication to bettering the lives of working Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my House colleagues to join me in acknowledging Clinton Fair's lifetime of contributions to organized labor and his community, and in celebrating the accomplishments that have earned him the distinction of becoming an honored member of the Upper Peninsula Labor Hall of Fame.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

I must disagree with the gentleman from New York. I was a police officer for 13 years during this time from 1975 to 1998, and if we look at this article from 1999, it says ``death by the gallon.'' From 1975 to 1998, we had 46,000 more deaths on the highways because we were driving smaller cars and trying to obtain the CAFE standard, the fuel efficiency. So we bring smaller cars in, and it results in more deaths on the highway. And as the chairman quoted, the National Academy of Sciences found in 2001, in their report on CAFE, reducing the size and weight of vehicles affects vehicle safety, increases the likelihood of traffic fatalities on the highways.

The better way to increase fuel economy throughout is the development and the advancement of technologies like are found in this bill in hybrid and fuel cells. The acoumeters are already moving these technologies into the marketplace. To go with the standard proposed by the proponents of this new CAFE standard of a 5 percent, we would have to get the 30 miles, which is not even in the marketplace right now.

Reject this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

I rise in support of the Brown GAS Reserves amendment.

Mr. Chairman, the bill before us today throws billions of taxpayer dollars at oil production. It undermines environmental protections for coastal States like my home State of Michigan, as well as Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. All of this is done for the promise of oil that cannot possibly get to the market for several years.

Even if these measures do succeed in increasing America's supply of crude oil, they will do nothing, nothing, to require that America's oil companies supply regions like the Midwest. Michigan was hit hard in 2001 when pipeline outages cut into our region's gasoline supplies. Prices at the pump jumped through the roof, putting the squeeze on my constituents and putting the brakes on Michigan's economy. Again this year we have large and often overnight jumps in gas prices that are just simply outrageous and are creating distrust in our system of gasoline distribution in this country.

The problem is not that pipelines sometimes break down and refineries sometimes catch on fire. They happen; these are acts of God, and we cannot expect the industry to prevent every one of them. The problem, Mr. Chairman, is that oil companies do not keep enough gasoline reserves in our area to provide a cushion when accidents like this happen, and that is not just ancient history. Even as we debate this amendment today, my district is looking at another summer of driving without a safety net, without a cushion.

The Bush administration's Energy Information Administration reported just last week that gasoline ``stocks are very low for this time of the year on the East Coast and in the Midwest.'' The gentleman from Ohio's (Mr. Brown) amendment, the GAS Reserves amendment would provide that cushion, that safety net that we need in Michigan to mitigate the price effects of physical disruptions in our region's gasoline supply system. For my friends in the Midwest, the Northeast, and California, history has shown that they also need that cushion, that safety net that is provided by this amendment.

I hope that my colleagues will join me in voting to give the Federal Government the tools it needs to make a real difference in the most important day-to-day energy issue facing our constituents and our economy. I ask that you join me in supporting the Brown amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to proceed out of order.

To proceed out of order. According to the ruling of the Chair, only yourself and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) can move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for getting us over that procedural hurdle, and I will not take the entire 5 minutes.

Mr. Chairman, I was going to offer an amendment tonight on health care, but I decided not to because I am sure it will be ruled out of order under the process we are provided with here tonight. But I wanted to make this point here on the floor tonight.

There is a provision in the supplemental that just sort of baffles me. What the Republicans are proposing is that we provide universal health care coverage for the Iraqi people. This Republican supplemental proposes, and I quote, ``to facilitate rapid universal health care service delivery to the Iraqi population.''

I must ask why are they willing to do this when they have staunchly opposed universal coverage for the American people for years now? I understand that special provisions need to be included to care for the Iraqi citizens injured in war. But if we are going to provide universal health care to the Iraqi population, we should do the same for our people here at home.

Mr. Chairman, I submit the rest of my statement, along with my proposed amendment, for the Record.

Mr. Chairman, the 41.2 million Americans who lack coverage should not have to suffer from lack of quality health care any longer. And our heroic soldiers, who will soon become veterans, should not be denied future health care.

The GOP Budget Resolution, that we passed 2 weeks ago, will deny and increase the cost of VA care. In my home state of Michigan, 25,000 veterans will be adversely affected and 5,000 of these veterans reside in my district.

Instead of honoring their commitment to our soldiers, the Republicans are proposing universal health coverage for Iraq?

Maybe now they will finally stop blocking Democratic attempts to cover the 41.2 million Americans who go without health insurance, and maybe now they will join in our other efforts on the health care front, such as providing American seniors access to a true prescription drug benefit through Medicare.

Amendment to H.R. 1559, as Reported

Offered by Mr. Stupak of Michigan

Page 59, after line 25, insert the following:

Sec. 3002. None of the funds made available under chapter 4

of title I of this Act may be used for the provision of

universal health care to the Iraqi people beyond those

amounts needed to cover related physical injury to the Iraqi

people resulting from the war in Iraq and other diseases or

injuries caused by public health conditions resulting from

the war in Iraq.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

Mr. Chairman, the budget that we have put forth by the Republican majority is almost an unbelievable exercise in fiscal irresponsibility. On the very first day of the war that we are now fighting, the majority party introduced a budget resolution that does not provide 1 cent, not 1 cent, to prosecute this war. This budget resolution contains more than $1 trillion in tax cuts that would benefit very few Americans, while endangering Social Security and Medicare.

I offered an amendment to the budget resolution to express the sense of the Congress that no new tax cuts should be passed until the Health, Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds are secured, but I was, of course, denied the opportunity to offer the amendment here tonight.

When we take a look at what is before us, when so many things are uncertain, I believe we need to pause before we pass into law huge, permanent tax cuts paid for by shortchanging essential programs, such as Medicare, education, veterans and funding for first responders. Right now we do not even know how long the war may last or what it might cost. It is irresponsible to pass a budget without taking all information into account.

If you take a look just the part on the veterans, the majority party cuts $14.2 billion over the next 10 years in benefits such as compensation for service-connected disabilities, burial benefits and GI education benefits. They are cut in this. What kind of message does that send to our troops fighting overseas? The fighting troops today are the veterans of tomorrow.

The Republican plan also fails to provide necessary homeland defense for State and local communities. It is just as important to provide homeland defense resources, training and staff for our local firefighters, EMTs, police officers and medical workers as it is to equip our troops overseas.

The Democratic substitute we will have a chance to vote on later tonight will provide $34 billion in extra money, new money, over the next 10 years for homeland security. In fact, $10 billion of this money would go to our States and local communities, right now this year.

I would urge a no vote on the budget resolution of the Republican Party as it is fiscally irresponsible. Vote no on the Toomey substitute, and support the Democratic substitute.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. The majority of our doctors are hardworking and professional and serve their patients with the utmost ability. Only a few doctors are bad actors who act in negligent or irresponsible ways. But the reality is that this bill will do nothing to help doctors. It does not address the high insurance rates or the plight of doctors. H.R. 5 is totally misguided. It does not address insurance costs for doctors. Instead, it caps meritorious lawsuits where a judge or jury has found for the victim.

H.R. 5 puts a cap of $250,000 on noneconomic damages. Many dismiss noneconomic damages as pain and suffering and imply that they are less important than economic damages. The true definition of noneconomic damages are those damages that are real, permanent harms that cannot easily be quantified or measured in terms of money, such as blindness, physical disfigurement, loss of fertility, loss of a limb, loss of mobility, loss of life, or loss of a child. These are horrific losses; and under this bill, they are capped at $250,000.

I offered an amendment to remove the antitrust exemption for insurance companies. If this bill is truly designed to address the insurance crisis in this country, how is it that it does not contain a single provision about insurance? The insurance industry is the last industry left in the United States that is not subject to antitrust laws. If we really want to bring insurance rates down well, we must make insurance companies subject to government regulation and competition and subject to our antitrust laws.

Everyone in this House of Representatives believes that something needs to be done about the skyrocketing costs of medical malpractice insurance.

The majority of our Nation's doctors are hard working and professional, and serve their patients to the utmost of their ability. Only a few--a small minority--of doctors are bad actors, who act in negligent or irresponsible ways.

But the reality is that this bill will not help our nation's responsible and hard-working doctors. It does not address the high insurance rates or the plight of our doctors. Only the Conyers-Dingell motion to recommit will accomplish these goals. I believe that the Conyers-Dingell bill is a targeted and positive measure to address malpractice insurance in this country.

H.R. 5, on the other hand, is a boon to HMOs, to drug companies, and to medical device manufacturers, who receive the bill's protection from damages without any justification. I cannot understand why a bill that is supposedly designed to help our Nation's doctors would include these other groups--except to provide them with an unjustified windfall.

H.R. 5 is totally misguided--it does not address insurance costs for doctors--instead it caps those meritorious lawsuits where a judge or a jury has found for the victim.

H.R. 5 puts a cap of $250,000 on noneconomic damages. Many dismiss noneconomic damages as being pain and suffering, and imply that these are less important than economic damages.

The true definition of noneconomic damages are those real, permanent harms that cannot be easily quantified or measured in terms of money.

Noneconomic damages include blindness, physical disfigurement, loss of fertility, loss of a limb, loss of mobility and the loss of a child. These are horrific losses--and under this bill they are capped at $250,000.

And not only are they capped at this amount, but because this bill does not even allow an annual adjustment for inflation, each year that $250,000 will lose more and more of its value, and be worth less and less.

I offered an amendment at the Rules Committee to allow an adjustment for the rate of

inflation, but my amendment was not made in order. I cannot believe that even this small and reasonable adjustment to help victims was denied.

I also offered an amendment to remove the antitrust exemption for insurance companies--that too was denied. If this bill is truly designed to address the insurance crisis in this country, how is it that it does not contain one single provision about insurance rates for doctors?

Democrats offered an amendment to require that insurance companies should pass on 50 percent of the amounts that they save as a result of this bill to doctors in the form of lower premiums. This would be a true way to ensure relief to doctors. Of course, this amendment was denied.

Medical insurers are the only industry left in America that is not barred from getting together and setting rates. If we really want to bring insurance rates down, we must make insurance companies subject to government regulation, to competition, and to antitrust law.

This bill will do nothing to help our doctors. Statistics have shown that even where caps exist, premiums are still inflated.

For example, my own state of Michigan has a cap in medical malpractice cases of $280,000 on noneconomic damages, with some limited exceptions.

Neighboring Illinois has no cap on noneconomic damages in these cases. Yet, the average liability premium in internal medicine is \1/3\ higher in Michigan than the premium is in Illinois.

I support our Nation's doctors and I want to help them in the crisis they are facing. But voting for H.R. 5 and its misdirected caps will not provide that help, and I cannot support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the rule and H.R. 534, the Weldon-Stupak Human Cloning Prohibition Act.

Mr. Speaker, it has been 2 years since we had the Raelian cult before my committee, the Committee on Energy and Commerce. We warned people back then it was not a question of if cloning would take place. It was a question of when. The Raelians have proven us right.

Whether or not they can actually clone a human is besides the point. The point is under current Federal law they can clone a human. We need to stop this manipulation of human life, and we need to stop it now. We cannot allow the Greenwood substitute that does allow the cloning of embryos, yet merely outlaws the implantation. We need to send the strongest possible message that cloning in any form is unacceptable.

The Weldon-Stupak bill is the only bill that does this. We cannot afford to treat the issue of human embryo cloning lightly, nor can we treat it without serious debate and deliberation.

The need for action is clear. Research firms, Advance Cell Technology of Massachusetts for one, have already begun cloning embryos for research purposes. Whatever your belief is, pro-life or pro-choice, the fact is embryos are either the building block of life or human life itself. We must ask ourselves what will our message be? What makes up human beings? What is the human spirit? What moves us? What separates us from animals? That is what is being debated here today.

What message will the United States Congress send? Will it be a cynical signal that human embryo cloning and destruction is okay, acceptable, even to be encouraged all in the name of science, or will it be a message urging caution and care? If we allow this research to go forward unchecked, what will be next? Allowing parents to choose what color hair and eyes their baby will have?

We need to consider all aspects of cloning and not just what the researchers tell us is good. Opposition to our bill has based its objections on arguments that we will stifle research, discourage free thinking, put science back in the dark ages. The Weldon-Stupak bill does nothing of the sort. It allows animal cloning. It allows tissue cloning. It allows current stem cell research being done on existing embryos. It allows DNA cloning. How is this stifling research? The fact is, there is no research being done on cloned human embryos, so how can we stifle it?

And do you know why there is no research being done? Because the scientists, the same ones that are coming to our offices, banging on our doors, begging to be allowed to experiment with human embryos, they do not even know how. They have experimented for years with cloned animal embryos with very limited success. These scientists who are pushing so hard to be allowed a free pass for research on what constitutes the very essence of what it is to be human do not know what goes wrong with cloned animal embryos. And the horror stories are too many to mention here of deformed mice and deformed sheep developing from cloned embryos.

A prominent researcher working for the bioresearch companies has admitted scientists do not know how or what happens in cloned embryos allowing these deformities. In fact, he calls the procedure when an egg reprograms DNA ``magic.''

Magic? That is hardly a comforting, hard-hitting scientific term, but it is accurate. It is magic. Opponents of the bill have said embryonic research is the Holy Grail of science and holds the key to untold medical wonders. I say to these opponents, show me your miracles. Show me the wondrous advances done on animal embryonic cloning. But these opponents cannot show me these advances because they do not exist.

Our ability to delve into the mysteries of life grows exponentially. All fields of science fuse to enhance our

ability to go where we have never gone before.

The question is simply: Just because we can do something, does that mean we should do it? What is a better path to take, one of haste and a rush to benefits that are at best years away into the future, entrusting cloned human embryos to scientists who do not know what they are doing with cloned animal embryos? Or is it one urging caution, urging a step back, further deliberation?

The human race is not open to experimentation at any level, even the molecular level. Has the 20th century not shown us of this folly?

Holy Grail? Magic? How about the human soul? Scientists and medical researchers cannot find it, cannot medically explain it, but writers write about it. Songwriters sing about it. We believe in it. From the depths of our souls we know we should ban human cloning. For the sake of our souls, let us reject the Greenwood substitute and support the Weldon-Stupak bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.