House Approves Bill Banning Genetic Discrimination

May 1, 2007

House lawmakers on Wednesday voted 420-3 to pass legislation (HR

493) that would ban discrimination against U.S. residents based on

the results of genetic tests, CQ Today reports (Armstrong, CQ Today,

4/25).

Under the bill, employers could not make decisions about whether to

hire potential employees or fire or promote employees based on the

results of genetic tests. In addition, health insurers could not

deny coverage to potential members or charge higher premiums to

members because of genetic test results (Kaiser Daily Health Policy

Report, 4/17).

Agreement was reached on language in the House bill that would

include fetuses and embryos in the protections against

discrimination, although no new rights would be conferred that would

affect the debate over abortion laws (CQ Today, 4/25). Rep. Louise

Slaughter (D-N.Y.), the bill's primary sponsor, said she first

introduced genetic discrimination legislation 12 years ago. She

said, " There's not a single person on the planet who has perfect

genes. We're all vulnerable to genetic discrimination. "

The White House in a statement indicated that President Bush would

sign the legislation. " Concern about unwarranted use of genetic

information threatens the utilization of existing genetic tests as

well as the ability to conduct further research, " the statement said

(CongressDaily, 4/26). Rep. s (D-N.J.) said, " If your

grandmother had breast cancer, you shouldn't be denied a job or a

promotion " (Abrams, AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 4/25). Sen. Tom

Coburn (R-Okla.) has placed a hold on the Senate version of the

legislation (S 358). He said his staff is working on his objections

to the bill, but he did not specify what they were (CQ Today, 4/25).

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