House Genetic Protection Bill Reintroduced by Bipartisan Group
According to a Web statementfrom Representative Judy Biggert (R-Illinois), the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) (H.R. 493), also bars employers from using individuals’ genetic information when making hiring, firing, job placement or promotion decisions.
Biggert and Representative Louise Slaughter (D-New York) announced the reintroduction of the bill that also has as primary sponsors Representative Anna Eshoo (D-California) and Representative Greg Walden (R-Oregon).
“We will never unlock the great promise of the
Human Genome Project if Americans are too paranoid to get
genetic testing,” said Biggert, chief sponsor of the
legislation in the 109th Congress, according to her
statement. “Without the protections offered by H.R.
493, these fears will persist, research at NIH will slow,
and Americans will never realize the benefits of gene-based
medicines.”
According to the statement President Bush has already
backed the measure. The
Senate has passed the bill unanimously twice in
recent years, the statement said (See
Genetic Discrimination
Bill Passes US Senate
).