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Update on GINA bill

The following alert went out today from the Genetic Alliance. Several of you have asked me how this is going, so here's the latest from Genetic Alliance.

Help GINA move successfully through the Committee process
Tell Energy and Commerce members not to weaken GINA

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) has made it to the final stretch and now faces opposition in committee that threatens to weaken the bill. Tell members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that we won’t stand for this!

Please call the staffers of each of the Committee members before the Committee marks up the bill on March 22. A list of staffers is provided below, or download a spreadsheet version. Use the Hide sample to chat with them or leave a voicemail message.

Sample Script
My name is [YOUR NAME HERE]. I am a member of [NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION HERE] and a supporter of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, or GINA, (H.R.493). I called to express some concerns with the Energy and Commerce Committee’s pending mark-up of GINA and ask you to oppose attempts to severely weaken this well and narrowly crafted bipartisan bill.

This bill is vitally important because it would protect all Americans from the misuse of genetic information in employment and health insurance decisions. With these protections in place, many more Americans will be able to avail themselves of genetic-based medicine without fear of the misuse of their genetic information.
The bill, as introduced in the 110th Congress, is the result of over a decade of compromise and has strong bipartisan support. As you consider this legislation, please consider the over 140 national patient groups, academic institutions, research centers, companies, women’s organizations, labor organizations, and the millions of Americans who we represent. We represent every sector of society in this nation, and we urge passage of GINA without the mark of special interests’ ever-shifting desires.

Thank you for your time.


There is power in numbers! Tell your friends, family, coworkers, and other members of your organization to take action now. We must make a big impact on this issue, and if we all make a contribution, we can make it happen!


Thomas Allen (D-ME) Susan Lexer 202.225.6116
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) Elizabeth Pika 202.225.2906
John Barrow (D-GA) Hill Thomas 202.225.2823
Joe Barton (R-TX) Aarti Shaw 202.225.2002
Mary Bono (R-CA) Taryn Nader 202.225.5330
Rick Boucher (D-VA) Chris Davis 202.225.3861
Michael Burgess (R-TX) Kimberly Stump 202.225.7772
G. K. Butterfield (D-NC) Robert Harris 202.225.3101
Steve Buyer (R-IN) Myrna Dugan 202.225.5037
Lois Capps (D-CA) Amy Fisher 202.225.3601
Barbara Cubin (R-WY) Landon Strapko 202.225.2311
Nathan Deal (R-GA) John Little 202.225.5211
Diana DeGette (D-CO) Jed Perry 202.225.4431
John Dingell (D-MI) HEALTH LA 202.225.4071
Mike Doyle (D-PA) Kenneth DeGraff 202.225.2135
Eliot Engel (D-NY) Emily Gibbons 202.225.2464
Anna Eshoo (D-CA) Jennifer Nieto 202.225.8104
Mike Ferguson (R-NJ) Tom Fussaro 202.225.5361
Vito Fossella (R-NY) Ryan McKee 202.225.3371
Charlie Gonzalez (D-TX) Rosemary Garza 202.225.3236
Bart Gordon (D-TN) Dana Lichtenberg 202.225.4231
Gene Green (D-TX) Lantie Slenzak 202.225.1688
Ralph Hall (R-TX) Amy Dyer 202.225.6673
Jane Harman (D-CA) Hank Greenberg 202.225.8220
Dennis J. Hastert (R-IL) Chris Sarley 202.225.2976
Baron Hill (D-IN) Lori Pepper 202.225.5315
Darlene Hooley (D-OR) Travis Robey 202.225.5711
Jay Inslee (D-WA) Nick Shipley 202.225.6311
Edward Markey (D-MA) Katherine Reinhalter 202.225.2836
Jim Matheson (D-UT) Neeta Bidwai 202.225.3011
Charlie Melancon (D-LA) Kate DeGravelles 202.225.4031
Tim Murphy (R-PA) Micheal Baxter 202.225.2301
Sue Myrick (R-NC) Sarah Hale 202.225.1976
Frank Pallone (D-NJ) Robert Clark 202.225.4671
Charles Pickering (R-MS) Mary Mills-Ritchie 202.225.5031
Joseph Pitts (R-PA) Monica Volante 202.225.2411
George Radanovich (R-CA) Chris Herndon 202.225.4540
Mike Rogers (R-AL) Kelly Childress 202.225.4872
Mike Ross (D-AR) Kate Callanan 202.225.3772
Bobby Rush (D-IL) Aysha Moshi 202.225.4372
Janice Schakowsky (D-IL) Lindsay McAllister 202.225.2111
John Shadegg (R-AZ) Shaun Small 202.225.3361
John Shimkus (R-IL) Mo Zilly 202.225.5271
Hilda Solis (D-CA) Noelle Lee 202.225.5464
Clifford Stearns (R-FL) Lauren Semeniuk 202.225.5744
Bart Stupak (D-MI) Erica Orloff 202.225.4735
John Sullivan (R-OK) Jonathon Rainbolt 202.225.2211
Lee Terry (R-NE) Jennifer Roberts 202.225.4155
Edolphus Towns (D-NY) Rick Blake 202.225.5936
Fred Upton (R-MI) Jane Williams 202.225.3761
Greg Walden (R-OR) Valerie Henry 202.225.6730
Henry Waxman (D-CA) Karen Nelson 202.225.3976
Anthony Weiner (D-NY) Marc Dunkelman 202.225.6616
Edward Whitfield (R-KY) Jeff Mortier 202.225.3115
Heather Wilson (R-NM) Joe Moser 202.225.6316
Albert Wynn (D-MD) Ridge Mills 202.225.8699
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