WASHINGTON - As author of the Human Cloning Prohibition Act (S. 1899), U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback released the following statement today reacting to the President's Council on Bioethics recommendation on cloning.

The President's Council on Bioethics has recommended that President Bush support a permanent ban on what many refer to as human reproductive cloning, and a moratorium on what is sometimes known as research, or so-called "therapeutic" cloning.

"I am heartened that the council has endorsed a temporary ban on all human cloning," Brownback said. "If approved by Congress, I believe a temporary ban would give the country an important opportunity to further debate the issue of human cloning along with its ultimate impact upon humanity.

"Unfortunately, I do have some areas of disagreement with the bioethics council. In particular, I do not believe that we can separate the issue of human cloning into two different categories by making policy recommendations based on the intentions of the researcher.

"Ultimately, all human cloning is reproductive.

"Any attempt to draw a distinction based on whether or not the researchers purposely kill the embryo for scientific experimentation, or try to implant the embryo in a women's uterus for live birth is nothing more than an attempt to legitimate human cloning under certain pre-defined circumstances.

"I am hopeful that as this dialogue continues we will debate the inviolable dignity of the human embryo from it's earliest moments of life - and whether or not we, as a society, should treat the most innocent human life as if it were property to be disposed of at will by it's owners; or life to be treasured and valued. I know that the President's Council on Bioethics will continue to work to help facilitate that debate," Brownback said.