[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 10, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H5116-H5120]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE OF SEQUENCING OF HUMAN GENOME AND
EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR GOALS AND IDEALS OF HUMAN GENOME MONTH AND DNA
DAY
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 110) recognizing the sequencing
of the human genome as one of the most significant scientific
accomplishments of the past 100 years and expressing support for the
goals and ideals of Human Genome Month and DNA Day.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 110
Whereas April 25, 2003, will be the 50th anniversary of the
publication of the description of the double-helix structure
of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in Nature magazine by James D.
Watson and Francis H.C. Crick, which is considered by many
scientists to be one of the most significant scientific
discoveries of the twentieth century;
Whereas their discovery launched a field of inquiry that
explained how DNA carries biological information in the
genetic code and how this information is duplicated and
passed from generation to generation, forming the stream of
life that connects us all to our ancestors and to our
descendants;
Whereas this field of inquiry in turn was crucial to the
founding and continued growth of the field of biotechnology,
which has led to historic scientific and economic advances
for the world, advances in which the people of the United
States have played a leading role and from which they have
realized significant benefits;
Whereas, in April 2003, the international Human Genome
Project will achieve essential completion of the finished
reference sequence of the human genome, which carries all the
biological information needed to construct the human form;
Whereas the Human Genome Project will be completed ahead of
schedule and under budget;
Whereas all data from the Human Genome Project is provided
free of charge to the public as soon as it is available;
Whereas the sequencing of the human genome has already
fostered biomedical research discoveries that have led to
improvements in human health;
Whereas the Human Genome Project has provided an exemplary
model for social responsibility in scientific research, by
devoting significant resources to studying the ethical,
legal, and social implications of the project;
Whereas, in April 2003, the National Human Genome Research
Institute of the National Institutes of Health will publish a
new plan for genomic research;
Whereas this new plan will establish priorities for the
future of genomic research, predict future developments in
understanding heredity, and serve as a guide in applying this
knowledge to improve human health; and
Whereas the National Human Genome Research Institute has
designated April 2003 as ``Human Genome Month'' in
celebration of the completion of the sequencing of the human
genome and April 25, 2003, as ``DNA Day'' in celebration of
the 50th anniversary of the publication of the description of
the structure of DNA on April 25, 1953: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That Congress--
(1) recognizes the sequencing of the human genome as one of
the most significant scientific accomplishments of the past
one hundred years;
(2) honors the 50th anniversary of the outstanding
accomplishment of describing the structure of DNA, the
essential completion of the sequencing of the human genome in
April 2003, and the development a plan for the future of
genomics;
(3) supports the goals and ideals of Human Genome Month and
DNA Day; and
(4) encourages schools, museums, cultural organizations,
and other educational institutions in the United States to
recognize Human Genome Month and DNA Day with appropriate
programs and activities centered on human genomics, using
information and materials provided through the National Human
Genome Research Institute and other sources.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).
General Leave
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on House concurrent resolution
110.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 110, a
concurrent resolution recognizing the sequencing of the human genome as
one of the most significant scientific accomplishments of the past 100
years
[[Page H5117]]
and expressing support for the goals and ideals of Human Genome Month
and DNA Day.
This legislation, introduced by our colleague, the gentlewoman from
New York (Ms. Slaughter), was unanimously approved by the Committee on
Energy and Commerce on April 30 of this year.
{time} 1345
April 2003 marked the 50th anniversary of a momentous achievement in
biology: James Watson and Francis Crick's Nobel Prize-winning
description of the double helix structure of DNA. In addition, this
past April we celebrated the culmination one of the most important
scientific projects in history, the sequencing of the human genome.
The science and technology of genomics have become the foundation of
research and biotechnology for the 21st century. In addition, health
care has undergone phenomenal changes, driven in part by the Human
Genome Project and accompanying advances in human genetics. While these
advances will certainly present a myriad of challenges for
policymakers, I feel confident that this information will truly
revolutionize the practice of medicine and greatly improve our quality
of life.
Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support passage of H. Con. Res. 110.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentleman from Florida (Mr.
Bilirakis) for his good work and bipartisanship and thank my colleague,
the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter) for authoring H. Con.
Res. 110.
I rise in support of this resolution and recognize its two major
advancements in public health: The 50th anniversary of the discovery of
the double helix structure of DNA and the completion recently of the
Human Genome Project.
Fifty years ago, Dr. James Watson and Dr. Francis Crick published a
structure of DNA. It is likely that neither of these scientists fully
understood the enormous impact that their discovery would have on our
Nation's public health, from historic advances to disease diagnosis to
life-saving medicine to reform of our everyday vocabulary. Their
scientific discovery laid the groundwork for another milestone of the
evolution of science; that is, the completion of the Human Genome
Project ahead of schedule and under budget.
While the investment in this project was modest in some ways by U.S.
standards, the return promises to be extraordinary. Doctors will have
tools to assess diseases in terms of their causes, not just their
symptoms. An entire genome of an organism can be known in a matter of
weeks or months, not years or decades. Scientists will begin to know
why some people and not others get sick from certain infections or
environmental exposures.
We can only begin to imagine what this means for health care
delivery. Clearly, being asked by your family doctor about your family
history will take on a whole new meaning. The Human Genome Project will
strengthen the roots of innovation, foster tomorrow's breakthrough
discoveries: discoveries like that of Dr. Watson and Dr. Crick which
offer every person the opportunity of a longer, healthier life.
With genetics and the burgeoning fields of genomics, we have truly
moved into a new era. Already friends and loved ones benefit from what
we have learned about genetic links to diabetes, Alzheimer's disease,
breast and ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, cystic fibrosis, and
Huntington's disease and others. We should not overlook the impact this
investment has on the public health infrastructure as whole. When we
invest in research, we are also investing in education.
The NIH reports that Ph.D. faculty at U.S. med schools has increased
by double digits as a result of the Federal investment in research.
These discoveries raise important policy issues, to be sure, like the
importance of strong genetic nondiscrimination policies.
My colleague, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), the
sponsor of this resolution, has introduced legislation to address the
potential abuse of genetic information by insurers and by employers.
That is a real issue. That is one we absolutely in this body have a
duty to address.
Genomics offers exciting opportunities to strengthen our public
health system and can take us into a new era of health and health care.
I am pleased to be a sponsor of the Slaughter resolution and I urge my
colleagues to join me in applauding the legion of talented scientists
who significantly contributed to these achievements.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns).
(Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished chairman of the
Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 110, a resolution
commending the completion of the sequencing of the human genome and the
50th anniversary of the description of the double helix which makes up
the DNA.
As past chairman of the Task Force on Health Care and Genetic
Privacy, I think we need to commend the folks at NIH for their
outpouring of work. As someone who studied science myself as a former
electrical engineer, I stand in awe of the frontier that we are
starting to move into with genetics.
As many of us know, genetics is the study of single genes and their
effects on human health. Genomics is a relatively new field of
scientific research that includes not only the study of single genes
but also the functions and interaction of all genes that comprise a
genome.
The human genome is a collection of about 35,000 genes that give rise
to life. Each gene is made up of a series of base pairs, tiny DNA units
denoted by A, C, T, and G. There are about 3.12 billion of these
genetic letters. Spanning nearly two decades, the Human Genome Project
is the international research effort to determine the sequencing of all
these genetic letters or, as we like to call it, a genetic blueprint
for humans.
Congress invested significant tax dollars, primarily at the National
Institutes of Health, just to advance this project. And we did so here
in Congress, because the human genome findings will pave the way for
what we hope will be a breakthrough of information on the new ways to
prevent and, of course, cure diseases.
I think we are just beginning to see the results of this investment.
Just as scientists have decoded the genetic map that defines us as
human beings, we will now need to decipher how well the Federal
bureaucracy is working to advance this promising area of genomics
research.
Genomics research transcends every institute and center at NIH. It
has implications for how we study every disease. Two short weeks ago,
the Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing to learn more about
genomics research. At that time, members had the opportunity to hear
from the leading scientists in the world about this research. We also
learned that we are right on track with a new project underway to
ensure that our investments at the National Institutes of Health are
fully maximized.
As the authorizing committee at NIH, the Committee on Energy and
Commerce is conducting an extensive review to determine how well NIH is
advancing medical research. All of us have been touched by someone
afflicted with a disease.
In my district of Jacksonville, Florida, a collaborative NIH study
between the Mayo Clinic and Shands Hospital is leading the charge for
screening for the gene that leads to strokes.
Just last year, NIH began its first phase of a clinical trial on a
drug compound that has shown promise in addressing the most life-
threatening symptoms of ataxia, a heart condition. Because of these
answers in sequencing of the human genome, more progress has been made
in understanding the underlying mechanism of this disorder than in the
previous 133 years.
Research advances like this mean something real to patients. It is
the hope that they are looking for when they need all the courage they
can muster to fight a debilitating disease.
[[Page H5118]]
So today we pay tribute to a major scientific achievement. Let us keep
working to speed forward more achievements like this to bring hope to
all patients that are suffering from diseases throughout the world.
It is our responsibility to ensure that NIH is held accountable on
behalf of our patients. It is our responsibility to remove barriers
that unnecessarily delay the incredible progress we are making in
improving human health.
We were just beginning. So I encourage all of my colleagues to assist
our effort in this great task. I encourage my colleagues to vote for H.
Con. Res. 110. It is altogether appropriate for us to pay tribute today
to the outstanding accomplishments of our Nation's scientists in this
groundbreaking achievement of sequencing the human genome. These same
scientists will lead the way with an even bigger project: determining
how to translate the outline of the human genome into real public
health solutions.
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman
from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen).
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me
time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon also in support of H. Con. Res.
110 and to recognize what is perhaps the greatest scientific endeavor
of the 21st century, the Human Genome Project, which will forever
change the way medicine is practiced and research is conducted.
Moreover, it has important implications for how we look at and define
each other.
The practical consequences of the emergence of this new field are
widely apparent. Identification of the genes responsible for certain
human diseases, once a staggering task requiring large research teams
and many years of hard work and an uncertain outcome, can now be
routinely accomplished in a few weeks.
This discovery also holds out new hope for wellness for African
Americans and other minority populations. Sickle cell disease was the
first genetics disease to be identified but needs more effort and
resources devoted towards a cure.
I want to take this opportunity to applaud Howard University's
College of Medicine who, just a few weeks ago, announced a partnership
with First Genetic Trust, Inc., to develop the first-ever massive data
bank of DNA of individuals of African descent. Called the Genomic
Research in the African Diaspora Biobank or GRAD Biobank, the data will
advance the study of genetic and biological bases for differential
disease risk, progression, and drug response.
But beyond deciphering what the human genome will do for science, it
gives us new understanding of the molecular processes underlying
disease and disease susceptibility, and it opens heretofore unknown
doors that take us beyond treatment to the correction of the origins of
disease. This discovery can also be a defining moment in human history
for other reasons.
As Dr. Georgia Dunston, the Director of the National Human Genome
Center at Howard University, pointed out at our health braintrust
meeting a few years ago, this monumental discovery also challenges the
current paradigm of race and ethnicity and all that follows from those
concepts, because in her words, ``The most salient feature of human
identity at the sequence level is variation. Human genome sequence
variation dispels the myth of a majority.''
Anthropologists, Dr. Dunston told us, have estimated that less than 1
percent of the total gene pool code for the phenotypic characteristics,
such as eye, hair and skin color, is what is used to classify human
populations, in other words, to divide us.
Whether or not African American or Hispanic American, Anglo or White
American, Native American, Asian/Pacific Islander or Alaskan Native, it
turns out that we are 99 percent alike.
So as we celebrate Human Genome Month and DNA Day, in addition to
focusing on what this discovery will do to ensure that all populations
are knowledgable about the science underpinning the HGP and have the
opportunity to participate in various ways, such as becoming research
scientists, research participants and policymakers, it is also
important for everyone to be informed about the Human Genome Project
and understand the ethical, legal, and social implications resulting
from genetics and genomics research.
Through our continued efforts to educate ourselves, to reach out to
our communities, and to communicate our fears, needs, and
responsibilities, we as government policymakers have the best
opportunity to have genetics and science improve the quality of life
for all Americans and make this a better country.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman
from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise
and extend her remarks.)
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me join in with the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr.
Brown) for their wisdom in bringing this legislation to the floor, and
certainly to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter) who I
enthusiastically join, along with the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr.
Tauzin) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) on this important
legislative initiative.
H. Con. Res. 110 is a resolution that helps to educate our colleagues
but also it speaks truth to the American people. As a member of the
House Committee on Science, we spent many, many hours on the question
of the human genome and the Human Genome Project in particular.
Recognizing the sequencing of the human genome as one of the most
significant scientific accomplishments of the past 100 years and
expressing support of the goals and ideals of the Human Genome Month
and DNA Day really is a statement about life.
{time} 1400
It is a statement about the ability of the new science to be able,
Mr. Speaker, to create life where there is none, to create better
improved health where that was not a possibility 10, 15 or 50 years
ago.
It is crucial as the human genome project achieves its essential
completion of the finished reference sequence of the human genome that
carries all of the biological information needed that we begin to
utilize this project; and one of the challenges that we have in this
Congress is the whole question of human cloning. It is important not to
equate these projects and this research and human genome work and DNA
with the idea of the creation of a human being.
It is important now as we have begun or understand the sequence that
we allow this project to grow and to be utilized to help us determine
the cures for diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's disease,
diabetes, stroke, and, yes, HIV/AIDS. The more we understand about the
human being and its makeup, the more we can create a better way of
life.
We well know of our renowned fiction character Superman, who is no
longer a superman in real life, who is trying time after time with a
number of efforts to find the cure for those who suffer spinal
injuries, some of the most devastating injuries that we will face. As
we look to the wounded who will be coming home from the war in Iraq and
Afghanistan, they will be coming home with major injuries, some
continuing to be life-threatening. The greater knowledge of our ability
to be able to respond to those kinds of devastating injuries, although
they are not by disease but by devastating injuries, physical injuries
through weapons, the better off we will be. The more we can find a way
to determine and fight against the war against bioterrorism, the better
off we will be.
This is an excellent resolution, Mr. Speaker, because it educates my
colleagues and educates the public.
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4\1/2\ minutes to the
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), sponsor of this resolution
who has showed particular interest in the issue of nondiscrimination of
genetics.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the
time.
I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 110, a resolution that I was
pleased to author with my colleagues, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr.
Tauzin),
[[Page H5119]]
the chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce; and the gentleman
from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the ranking member.
This resolution recognizes a set of milestones in the history of
human scientific endeavors. In April of 1953, two young scientists by
the names of James Watson and Francis Crick published an article in the
journal ``Nature'' describing the structure of a molecule known as
deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA. In doing so, they opened the doors to an
entirely new field of research that explained the information carrying
the genetic code and the way it is duplicated, translated, and
activated.
This field of research culminated 2 months ago with the announcement
that the next generation of scientists had completed a full map of the
human genome. Every one of the 3 billion base pairs in a strand of
human DNA has been identified. This singular achievement is the result
of more than a decade of concerted planning, international cooperation,
and single-minded dedication to the cause. It is a scientific
accomplishment of the highest order, emblematic of the advances in
human knowledge of which we are capable when we work together across
all divisions.
When the human genome project was initiated, the technology to carry
it through did not exist. It was invented as the research sped along.
Congress, to its credit, considered this endeavor worthy of funding and
had faith in our scientists' ability to achieve it. It was, therefore,
also a stunning example of the vision and good of which our government
is capable.
H. Con. Res. 110 expresses the sense of the U.S. Congress that we
recognize these achievements for the historical landmarks that they
are. The resolution also lends its support to the designation of April
as Human Genome Month and April 25 as DNA Day. Furthermore, it
encourages schools, museums, cultural organizations, and other
educational organizations to recognize the dates with appropriate
programs and activities.
Even though the resolution does not specifically do so, I would be
remiss if I did not take this opportunity to commend the individual who
has directed the human genome projects since 1993, my good friend, Dr.
Francis Collins. Dr. Collins began his career as a brilliant scientist,
a pioneer in the field of genetics and discoverer of the gene for
cystic fibrosis. He has continue his career, however, as a brilliant
administrator, a truly remarkable progression.
Under his leadership, the human genome project has been completed
under budget and ahead of schedule. Dr. Collins guided and shaped the
initiative for a full decade, bringing it to fruition. Our Nation, and
indeed, our world, owe him a debt of gratitude.
I am pleased the leadership has agreed to consider this resolution
today, and I urge my colleagues to support it. I would also, however,
like to urge the body to take up a far more urgent piece of legislation
on the subject of genetics, which is the Genetic Nondiscrimination in
Health Insurance and Employment Act.
The resolution before us today recognizes the immense benefit which
the mapping of the human genome may have for us. The Genetic
Nondiscrimination Act would forestall the darker consequences that
could arise through this new technology. We must not allow the
potential advances in human health to be stifled because Americans fear
that their genetic information may be used against them.
I urge the leadership to take up and pass the Genetic
Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and Employee Act as quickly as
possible.
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida
for his good work on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the cooperation of the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown). He has always been very cooperative.
This is an illustration of bipartisanship at work and all the work
obviously of the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter).
Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, every day we wake up and are faced with new
discoveries. We read about the depths of space that we can only now see
with the Hubble Telescope. We learn about tremendous achievement in
nanotechnology, like the printing of a Bible that can fit on a pencil
eraser. We have been to the moon and back, landed robots on Mars and
cured diseases that have plagued mankind for millennia. Yet, Mr.
Speaker, in this litany of great achievements one that stands out above
all, is to have learned the very vocabulary of life, to have mapped the
entire human genome.
I rise today in support of this resolution and to recognize that the
sequencing of the human genome is indeed one of the greatest scientific
accomplishments of the past one hundred years, indeed of all of
history.
But Mr. Speaker, I rise with special pride because of Long Island's
unique contribution in the quest to map the genome. Much of the work to
sequence the genome took place at Cold Spring Harbor Lab on Long
Island, and in particular, by a brilliant scientist I am privileged to
know: Dr. James Watson.
Dr. Watson, along with Francis Crick, discovered the structure of
DNA. For this accomplishment they shared the 1962 Nobel Prize in
Physiology of Medicine with Maurice Wilkins. Their revolutionary
concept was that the DNA molecule takes the shape of a double helix,
and elegantly simple structure that resembles a gently twisted ladder.
Mr. Speaker, my children learn about the double helix today in
science class. We take it for granted. We watch Law and Order and CSI
and hear about DNA testing and we go to the doctor to find out if we
have a genetic marker for a specific disease.
Yet we almost never stop to think about this phenomenal breakthrough.
It is amazing that in fewer than fifty years we have come so far. We
should all be very proud that this achievement occurred here in the
United States, a testament to our ongoing strengths, continuing
leadership in science and technology.
The human genome provides us with the most basic information of life.
What we do with that information is up to us. Dr. Watson and his
colleagues have gotten us this far. It is my hope, that through efforts
like Human Genome Month and DNA Day, our young people will be inspired
to make the great scientific leaps of tomorrow--applying the genetic
map to conquering dreaded diseases and improving the quality of life on
our planet.
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res.
110, a resolution that I was pleased to author with my colleagues,
Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Tauzin and Ranking Member
Dingell.
This resolution recognizes a set of milestones in the history of
human scientific endeavors. In April 1953, two young scientists by the
name of James Watson and Francis Crick published an article in the
journal Nature describing the structure of a molecule known as
deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA. In doing so, they opened the doors to an
entirely new field of research--that exploring the information carried
in the genetic code and the way it is duplicated, translated, and
activated.
This field of research culminated two months ago with the
announcement that the next generation of scientists had completed a
full map of the human genome. Every one of the three billion base pairs
in a string of human DNA has been identified. This singular achievement
is the result of more than a decade of concerted planning,
international cooperation, and single-minded dedication to the cause.
It is a scientific accomplishment of the highest order, emblematic of
the advances in human knowledge of which we were capable when we work
together across all divisions.
When the Human Genome Project was initiated, the technology to carry
it through did not exist. It was invented as the research sped along.
Congress, to its credit, considered this endeavor worthy of funding and
had faith in our scientists' ability to achieve it. It was, therefore,
also a stunning example of the vision and good of which our government
is capable.
H. Con. Res. 110 expresses the sense of the U.S. Congress that we
recognize these achievements for the historical landmarks they are. The
resolution also lends its support to the designation of April as Human
Genome Month and April 25 as DNA Day. Furthermore, it encourages
schools, museums, cultural organizations, and other educational
institutions to recognize these dates with appropriate programs and
activities.
Even though the resolution does not specifically do so, I would be
remiss if I did not take this opportunity to commend the individual who
has directed the Human Genome Project since 1993: my good friend, Dr.
Francis Collins. Dr. Collins began his career as a brilliant scientist,
a pioneer in the field of genetics, and discoverer of the gene for
cystic fibrosis. He has continued his career, however, as a brilliant
administrator--a truly remarkable progression. Under his leadership,
the Human Genome Project has been completed under budget and ahead of
schedule. Dr. Collins guided and shaped the initiative for a full
decade, bringing it to fruition. Our nation, and indeed our world, owe
him a debt of gratitude.
I am pleased that the leadership has agreed to consider this
resolution today, and I urge
[[Page H5120]]
my colleagues to support it. I would also, however, like to urge this
body to take up a far more urgent piece of legislation on the subject
of genetics: the Genetic Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and
Employment Act. The resolution before us today recognizes the immense
benefit which the mapping of the human genome may have for us. The
Genetic Nondiscrimination Act would forestall the darker consequences
that could arise from this new technology. We must not allow the
potential advances in human health to be stifled because Americans fear
that their genetic information will be used against them. I urge the
leadership to take up and pass the Genetic Nondiscrimination in Health
Insurance and Employment Act as quickly as possible.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers; and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Nethercutt). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) that the
House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con.
Res. 110.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________