Human-Animal Hybrid Ban Bill Passes the Senate Health, Human Services and Aging Committee

On Tuesday, Ohio Christian Alliance hosted Dr. David Prentice of the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C..  Dr. Prentice was on hand at the Ohio Statehouse to present expert testimony in support of S.B. 243, Ohio's Ban on Human Cloning and Human-Animal Hybrid Ban. 

Late Wednesday, State Senator Steve Buehrer introduced a sub bill of SB 243 which presented human-animal hybrid ban as a stand-alone bill.  This legislation has bipartisan support. The bill is slated for a vote early next week. 

OCA President Chris Long is urging the membership to call their State Senators and ask for them to support S.B.243 with a vote on the Senate Floor.  Currently the states of Louisiana and Arizona have a ban on human-animal hybrids.  The state of Oklahoma has passes a similar piece of legislation and slight language differences are being worked out between the Houses.  If Ohio is able to pass this legislation, it would become the third state to do so. 

Animal-human hybrid research is currently being conducted in England. It is unknown how many U.S. laboratories are currently conducting some form of human-animal research. 

President Long stated in testimony on Tuesday before the committee, "It is not the intent of the Ohio Christian Alliance or other life organizations to limit advancements in medical research in Ohio laboratories.  But, when that research goes far beyond the lines of any reasonable ethical boundaries, then government has the obligation to restrict and prohibit such research.  Just because a thing can be done doesn’t mean that it should be done.  All human life is sacred, including nascent human life, and is deserving of the proper protections under the law."