Congress Passes Genetic Nondiscrimination Bill
Congress passed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act today, the Associated Press reports. If signed into law, the bill would make it illegal for companies and insurers to discriminate against people based on genetic information about them, such as predispositions certain people may have to developing breast cancer, sickle cell disease, or diabetes.
President Bush is expected to sign the bill. Only one member of Congress, GOP Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, voted against the legislation, which was passed unanimously by the Senate last week. The House passed it today.
The legislation had been in the works for years, as U.S. News's Bernadine Healy explained in November. And in the On Women blog, Deborah Kotz provides examples of people who've been denied insurance and even jobs because of their genes.
Reader Comments
To our American Law Makers
When you Vote , VOTE , to save America and her freedoms for the American people , you need to remeber that as Americans (you are Americans) we should stand together to make sure our borders are protected and 911 never happens again!
The people that vote for you and allow you the privillage to make the 'laws of the land ' are American citizens , all we ask is that you Vote like American citizens making laws for American citizens,, We want to keep our freedom ,
And Who's to Know?
This bill is easy and politically expedient to pass -- and incredibly difficult to administer. With the human genome pretty well known globally, and genetic testing labs being set up internationally, how will anybody ever know whether or not something of them has been genetically tested, surreptitously or otherwise? The only thing it does say is that employers cannot openly ask a prospective employee to submit to genetic testing. What about urine testing? You give a sample, it comes from your body, you handle the cup, etc.
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