Human-Animal Chimera Prohibition Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.3542 | Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. (R-NJ)
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
Human-Animal Chimera Prohibition Act of 2021
This bill establishes new federal crimes related to conduct involving certain types of human-animal chimeras. The term human-animal chimera means an organism that, from an early stage of development, contains human and nonhuman parts.
This bill makes is unlawful to
A violator is subject to civil and criminal penalties.

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 2021''.

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 certain human-animal chimeras.
``Sec. 1131. Definitions
    ``In this chapter the following definitions apply:
            ``(1) 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.
            ``(2) 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.
``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 not more than 10 years, or 
        both.
            ``(2) Civil penalty.--Whoever violates subsection (a) and 
        derives pecuniary gain from such violation shall be subject to 
        a civil fine of the greater of $1,000,000 and an amount equal 
        to the amount of the gross gain multiplied by 2.
    ``(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.''.
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