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<p align="right"><i>October 24, 2003</i></p>
<h3>Senate Passes Genetic Discrimination Bill</h3>
<p>The Senate last week unanimously passed a bill to prohibit employment and health 
  insurance discrimination based on genetic information.  The Genetic Information 
  Nondiscrimination Act (S. 1053), which passed the Senate by a 95-0 vote on October 
  14, would prevent health insurance providers and employers from using an individual’s 
  genetic predisposition to a disease as a basis for denying access to health 
  coverage or a job.</p>
<p>The completion of the human genome sequence has raised hopes of a medical revolution, 
  but the bill’s supporters say that to take full advantage of this achievement, 
  the public must be reassured that genetic information will be used to improve 
  health and not to discriminate unfairly.  They report that many individuals 
  faced with the option of undergoing genetic tests have declined because of fears 
  of discrimination.</p>
<p>Such fears are understandable, says Senate Majority Leader Bill <span class=SpellE>Frist</span> 
  (R-TN), a key supporter of the legislation.  “Genetic screening is a powerful 
  tool, and can impart highly sensitive and very personal information.  The fear 
  of genetic discrimination has the potential to prevent individuals from participating 
  in research studies, from taking advantage of new genetic technologies, or even 
  from discovering that they are not at high risk for genetically related illnesses.”</p>
<p>Advocates for the health insurance industry counter that there is little evidence 
  that genetic discrimination is actually occurring, and that the Health Insurance 
  Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provides sufficient consumer protections, 
  rendering the Senate legislation unnecessary.</p>
<p>The bill, which was introduced by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), was approved by 
  the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in May after lengthy 
  bipartisan negotiations.  Supporters hope the House will pass the Senate legislation 
  as is and send it to President Bush, who has announced his support for it.  
  A similar—though more stringent—bill authored by Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), 
  H.R. 1910, has collected 228 co-sponsors from across the political spectrum. 
  &#149;&#149;&#149;</p>
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