Human-Animal Chimera Prohibition Act of 2023

Subjects: Crime and Law Enforcement, Animal protection and human-animal relationships, Cell biology and embryology, Civil actions and liability, Genetics, Medical research, Research administration and funding

Summary:  <p><strong></strong><b>Human-Animal Chimera Prohibition Act of 2023 </b></p> <p>This bill establishes new federal crimes related to conduct involving certain types of human-animal chimeras. The term <em>human-animal chimera</em> means an organism that, from an early stage of development, contains human and nonhuman parts.</p> <p>This bill makes is unlawful to </p> <ul> <li>create or attempt to create a prohibited human-animal chimera,</li> <li>transfer or attempt to transfer a human embryo into a nonhuman womb,</li> <li>transfer or attempt to transfer a nonhuman embryo into a human womb, or</li> <li>transport or receive for any purpose a prohibited human-animal chimera.</li> </ul> <p>A violator is subject to civil and criminal penalties.<br> </p>

<html><body><pre>[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 751 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

&lt;DOC&gt;






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 751

  To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit certain types of 
                         human-animal chimeras.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 9, 2023

Mr. Braun (for himself and Mr. Lankford) introduced the following bill; 
  which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit certain types of 
                         human-animal chimeras.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Human-Animal Chimera Prohibition Act 
of 2023''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN HUMAN-ANIMAL CHIMERAS.

    Part I of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after chapter 51 the following:

    ``CHAPTER 52--CERTAIN TYPES OF HUMAN-ANIMAL CHIMERAS PROHIBITED

``Sec.
``1131. Definitions.
``1132. Prohibition on human-animal chimeras.
``Sec. 1131. Definitions
    ``In this chapter:
            ``(1) Human embryo.--The term `human embryo' means an 
        organism of the species Homo sapiens during the earliest stages 
        of development, from 1 cell up to 8 weeks after conception.
            ``(2) Prohibited human-animal chimera.--The term 
        `prohibited human-animal chimera' means--
                    ``(A) a human embryo into which a nonhuman cell or 
                cells (or the component parts thereof) have been 
                introduced to render the embryo's membership in the 
                species Homo sapiens uncertain;
                    ``(B) a human-animal embryo produced by fertilizing 
                a human egg with nonhuman sperm;
                    ``(C) a human-animal embryo produced by fertilizing 
                a nonhuman egg with human sperm;
                    ``(D) an embryo produced by introducing a nonhuman 
                nucleus into a human egg;
                    ``(E) an embryo produced by introducing a human 
                nucleus into a nonhuman egg;
                    ``(F) an embryo containing at least haploid sets of 
                chromosomes from both a human and a nonhuman life form;
                    ``(G) a nonhuman life form engineered such that 
                human gametes develop within the body of a nonhuman 
                life form;
                    ``(H) a nonhuman life form engineered such that it 
                contains a human brain or a brain derived wholly or 
                predominantly from human neural tissues;
                    ``(I) a nonhuman life form engineered such that it 
                exhibits human facial features or other bodily 
                morphologies to resemble human features; or
                    ``(J) an embryo produced by mixing human and 
                nonhuman cells, such that--
                            ``(i) human gametes develop within the body 
                        of the resultant organism;
                            ``(ii) it contains a human brain or a brain 
                        derived wholly or predominantly from human 
                        neural tissues; or
                            ``(iii) it exhibits human facial features 
                        or other bodily morphologies to resemble human 
                        features.
``Sec. 1132. Prohibition on certain human-animal chimeras
    ``(a) In General.--It shall be unlawful for any person to 
knowingly, in or otherwise affecting interstate commerce--
            ``(1) create or attempt to create a prohibited human-animal 
        chimera;
            ``(2) transfer or attempt to transfer a human embryo into a 
        nonhuman womb;
            ``(3) transfer or attempt to transfer a nonhuman embryo 
        into a human womb; or
            ``(4) transport or receive for any purpose a prohibited 
        human-animal chimera.
    ``(b) Penalties.--
            ``(1) In general.--Whoever violates subsection (a) shall be 
        fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, 
        or both.
            ``(2) Civil penalty.--Whoever violates subsection (a) shall 
        be subject to a civil fine of the greater of--
                    ``(A) $1,000,000; or
                    ``(B) the amount equal to twice the amount of the 
                gross pecuniary gain, if any.
    ``(c) Rule of Construction.--This section does not prohibit 
research involving the use of transgenic animal models containing human 
genes or transplantation of human organs, tissues, or cells into 
recipient animals, if such activities are not prohibited under 
subsection (a).''.

SEC. 3. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.

    The table of chapters for part I of title 18, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 51 the 
following:

``52. Certain types of human-animal chimeras prohibited.....   1131.''.
                                 &lt;all&gt;
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