At one of a series of hearings that the Senate panel held on this issue, a representative of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops argued that obtaining pluripotent stem cells would still require the destruction or harming of a human embryo and thus should be included in the ban. The NIH will not be funding any research using pluripotent stem cells until guidelines are developed and widely disseminated to the research community and an oversight process is in place. Whether Congress will honor NIH's interpretation is uncertain. Bill loosening encryption software controls gains support Republicans and Democrats in the House are uniting behind a bill that would virtually eliminate restrictions on encryption software. However, the Clinton administration is strongly opposed to the measure.
Strong encryption protects consumers and helps law enforcement by preventing crime on the Internet.
H.R. 850 has three purposes. First, it would allow Americans to purchase any type of encryption software. Currently, federal law only permits the sale of 56-bit encryption products, which are far less complicated and secure than products that can be bought from overseas manufacturers. Second, it would end most restrictions on encryption software sales by U.S. companies. Third, it would prohibit access to such software by any third party, including law enforcement officials.