[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6131 Introduced in House (IH)]

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114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6131

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 22, 2016

 Mr. Smith of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. Babin, Mr. Bilirakis, Mrs. 
  Black, Mr. Boustany, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Fortenberry, Mr. Harris, Mrs. 
Hartzler, Mr. Hensarling, Mr. Huelskamp, Mr. Huizenga of Michigan, Mr. 
   Luetkemeyer, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Russell, Mrs. Wagner, Mr. 
 Loudermilk, and Mr. Mullin) introduced the following bill; which was 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit 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 2016''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON HUMAN-ANIMAL CHIMERAS.

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

                  ``CHAPTER 52--HUMAN-ANIMAL CHIMERAS

``Sec.
``1131. Definitions.
``1132. Prohibition on human-animal chimeras.
``Sec. 1131. Definitions
    ``In this chapter the following definitions apply:
            ``(1) Human-animal chimera.--The term `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 chimera human/animal embryo produced by 
                fertilizing a human egg with nonhuman sperm;
                    ``(C) a chimera 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; or
                    ``(H) a nonhuman life form engineered such that it 
                contains a human brain or a brain derived wholly or 
                predominantly from human neural tissues.
            ``(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 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 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 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 xenotransplantation 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. Human-animal chimeras.................................   1131.''.
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