Human Cloning Ban and Stem Cell Research Protection Act of 2005

This bill proposes a federal ban on human cloning while establishing specific regulations for stem cell research involving nuclear transplantation. It would make it a crime to attempt to clone a human being or to ship materials across state or international lines for the purpose of human cloning.

For citizens and the scientific community, the bill clarifies the legal boundaries of medical research by permitting "therapeutic cloning"—the creation of unfertilized blastocysts for stem cell research—while strictly prohibiting "reproductive cloning." To ensure ethical oversight, the legislation mandates that research embryos cannot be maintained for more than 14 days, prohibits the purchase or sale of human eggs, and requires that all egg donations be voluntary and based on informed consent. Violators of these regulations would face significant civil and criminal penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment.