Mississippi Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith blocked a Senate bill that would have protected IVF treatment on a federal level, saying the issue should be left up to the states. But she had another reason for opposing the legislation — the possibility that IVF treatment could lead to human-animal hybrids.
Speaking on the Senate floor this Wednesday, Hyde-Smith said that the bill “would legalize the creation of human-animal chimeras” among other issues.
According to Greek mythology, the chimera was a fire-breathing hybrid creature composed of different animal parts. It is usually depicted as a lion, with the head of a goat protruding from its back, and a tail that had a snake’s head.
“It would legalize human cloning. It would legalize commercial surrogacy, including for young girls without parental involvement. It would legalize gene edited designer babies and lift the federal ban on the creation of three parent embryos,” she said.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) said that Hyde-Smith’s interpretation of the bill was wrong:
It does not force anyone to seek reproductive technology. It does not force anyone to offer it. It does not force anyone to cover it. It simply says you have a statutory right should you choose to pursue assisted reproductive technology.
