[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 7, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E849-E850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           GENETIC INFORMATION NONDISCRIMINATION ACT OF 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 1, 2008

  Ms. McCollum of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, H.R. 493.
  I am a cosponsor of this important legislation, which bans genetic 
discrimination in the workplace and in health insurance on the basis of 
predictive genetic information. It prohibits insurance companies from 
denying coverage or increasing premiums because of genetic factors. 
Also, under this bill, employers cannot consider genetic factors in the 
process of hiring, firing, or promoting workers.
  H.R. 493 is similar to Minnesota law, which I voted for when I was a 
member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. Minnesota law sets 
basic privacy protections for the collection of genetic information by 
Government agencies and private entities. Unfortunately, not all States 
offer protection against genetic discrimination. This leaves most 
Americans unsure of how their private information will be protected. 
National legislation needs to be implemented now, before genetic 
discrimination becomes more widespread as genetic testing comes into 
greater use.
  Discrimination based on a person's genetic information, just like 
that based on race or disability, should not be tolerated. Genetic 
discrimination has the potential to affect every person in the United 
States. Despite advances in modern medical technology, it is impossible 
to predict with certainty whether a given individual will actually 
develop a disease. Patients recognize that few laws exist to prevent 
health insurers or employers from using their predictive genetic 
information to deny them coverage or jobs. As a result, fear of such 
discrimination could cause individuals to refuse potentially life-
saving testing or participate in genetic research.
  Federal employees are already protected from genetic discrimination 
by an executive order signed by President Clinton. It is time to extend 
this protection to the rest of our country.
  H.R. 493 will give Americans the security they need to take care of 
their health needs without worrying that they will face discrimination. 
This bill has been pending for over 13

[[Page E850]]

years now. Under Republican control there were no hearings on this 
important topic. Within one year of Democrats taking control of the 
House this bill was passed, and is now on its way to the President's 
desk.
  This bill is the right thing to do to protect access to health care 
and against genetic discrimination in the workplace. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

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