Alert
Florida Catholic Conference
March 8, 2002

Ban on Human Cloning

ALERT

HB 805 (Kallinger) The vote on HB 805 was delayed until Monday, March 11, 2002.  Contact with your Representative is still helpful!

<http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Legislators/index.cfm?Chamber=House&Members=By+Last+Name&Tab=legislators&Submenu=1>

SB 1164 (Villalobos) The Bill will be heard in Senate Appropriation Subcommittee on Public Safety and Judiciary on Monday, March 11, 2002 at 1:45 p.m.    It is especially important to contact these members if they represent your district.  ASAP!!!

Call or Email your Senator to vote “Yes” on

SB 1164:

Dist. 11    Senator Anna P. Cowin           Leesburg              (850) 487-5014        cowin.anna.web@leg.state.fl.us

Dist. 16    Senator Locke Burt                  Ormond Beach     (850) 487-5033        burt.locke.web@leg.state.fl.us

Dist. 30     Senator M. Mandy Dawson    Ft. Lauderdale     (850) 487-5112        dawson.mandy.web@leg.state.fl.us

 Dist. 36    Senator Kendrick B. Meek     Miami                   (850) 487-5116       meek.kendrick.web@leg.state.fl.us

Please thank Senator Alex Villalobos and Representative Jim Kallinger for their leadership in this effort.

Senator J. Alex Villalobos     Miami              villalobos.alex.web@leg.state.fl.us
Rep. Jim Kallinger                 Winter Park      kallinger.jim@leg.state.fl.us

In communication with your legislators, remember:

• “Therapeutic Cloning” is a misleading term.  All cloning is “reproductive.” So-called "therapeutic" cloning involves creating a human being, and harvesting stem cells from the human embryo, which results in destroying a human life.

• Furthermore, stem cells can be taken from consenting adults, umbilical cords and placentas.  These stem cells are in use now for therapies and are more adaptable than originally thought.
  
• Adult stem cells are currently used to treat:  anemia, autoimmune disease, cancer treatment, cardiac repair after heart attack and many other therapies.  Embryonic stem cells have yet to help a human patient.  Adult stem cells have helped hundreds and thousands.   See www.stemcellresearch.org/currentups.htm <http://www.stemcellresearch.org/currentups.htm>. for more uses and medical citations.
  
• Representatives from the University of Florida have stated that embryonic stem cell research is not currently occurring at UF.  No current research is at risk in a prohibition as has been implied in some circles.

Thank you!

Michael B. Sheedy
Associate for Health
Florida Catholic Conference
Email:    msheedy@flacathconf.org
Phone:   850-222-3803
Fax:       850-681-9548