Human Cloning Ban
Today at the White House, President Clinton announces that he is sending to Congress new legislation prohibiting anyone --in the public or private sector --from creating a child through human cloning, to make sure scientific exploration is guided by our commitment to human values, the good of society, and our basic sense of right and wrong:
In March, after a breakthrough in animal cloning, the President banned the use of federal funds for cloning human beings, urged the private sector to observe the ban voluntarily, and asked the National Bioethics Commission to review the legal and ethical issues raised by the new cloning technology.
In its report to the President today, the National Bioethics Commission concludes that attempting to clone a human being is unacceptably dangerous to the child and morally unacceptable to society.
The President is sending legislation to Congress to ban the use of new cloning techniques to create a child. Because these techniques hold out the promise of revolutionary new treatments in other areas, the legislation would not ban their use to clone DNA and cells, nor would it ban animal cloning.
Until the President signs this legislation, his ban on the use of federal funds for human cloning will stay in effect, and he will continue his call for a voluntary private sector ban.
SATURDAY: PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON HATE CRIMES, AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REVIEW OF FEDERAL LAWS
In his weekly Radio Address on Saturday, President Clinton called for an all-out assault on hate crimes --to conquer the dark forces of hatred and division that still exist in our society, so that we can move forward into the 21st Century as One America:
The President condemned crimes of hatred --committed solely because of the victim's race or religious faith, national origin or sexual orientation, gender or disability --as "acts of violence against America itself."
The President announced that he will convene the first White House Conference on Hate Crimes this November 10th --to take a serious look at the laws and remedies that can make a difference in preventing hate crimes; to highlight solutions that are working in communities across the country, and to continue the frank and open dialogue we need to build One America across all difference and diversity.
In preparation for the conference, Attorney General Reno has begun a thorough review of the laws concerning hate crimes and the ways in which the federal government can make a difference to help us to build a more vigorous plan of action.
June 6, 1997
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