Senators Sam Brownback, Kansas Republican, and Mary Landrieu, Louisiana Democrat, today announced the reintroduction of the Brownback-Landrieu Human Cloning Prohibition Act, which bans human cloning.

The bill prohibits human somatic cell nuclear transfer -- the process by which a human close is created.

The bill doesn't ban medical procedures to assist a woman in becoming or remaining pregnant, doesn't interfere with gene therapy, nor ban DNA, cell or tissue cloning -- outside of cloned human embryos.

"Human cloning is an affront to the most basic level of respect for human life and dignity," Brownback said. "Through the process of human cloning, human beings are reduced to commodities and spare parts."

Added Landrieu: "Human cloning is like an unmarked and unchecked interstate system, with researchers racing as fast as they can with few restrictions. Creating human life simply for the purpose of destroying it through experimentation is immoral, unethical and should be illegal."

The legislation, which the senators have unsuccessfully introduced in past years, includes provisions for enforcement penalties, including a criminal sentence of up to 10 years, and civil fines of at least $1 million.

The bill has 28 original co-sponsors.

-- Sean Lengell, Capitol Hill correspondent, The Washington Times