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It's time to put on the pressure

You can not discriminate against me because I might develop a given health problem. You can not use my genes against me. It isn't right, but apparently there are a few senators having a tough time with the concept. Here's the latest GINA (Genetic Non-Discrimination Act) update.


The House is working this weekend to get an omnibus bill together for Monday. Your calls have helped – but efforts to block it have been stepped up with another hold on the bill: Senator McConnellH.R. 493, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) Summary: The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) would prohibit insurers and employers from discriminating based solely on a person’s genetic information. Title I protects an individual from insurance discrimination. Title I applies to employer-sponsored group health plans, health insurance issuers in the group and individual markets, Medigap insurance, and state and local non-federal governmental plans.Title II prohibits the use of genetic information in employment decisions, such as hiring, firing, job assignments, and promotions. This prohibition extends to employers, unions, employment agencies, and labor-management training programs.Status:
Passed in the House of Representatives on April 25, 2007 by a vote of 420-3.
The bill has 224 cosponsors, including 95 Republicans.
Passed in the Senate in the 108th and 109th Congresses by votes of 95-0 and 98-0 respectively.
McConnell voted for GINA both times.
Coburn voted for GINA in the 109th. He was not in the Senate in the 108th. Coburn now has a hold on the bill, so we cannot get a vote in the Senate.

The President has issued 3 Statement of Administration Policies in support of the bill.
The bill also enjoys the support of 200+ organizations.
ACTION: Call Senator McConnell and tell him you support putting GINA in the Omnibus: Tel: (202) 224-2541 Fax: (202) 224-2499 Email: http://mcconnell.senate.gov/contact_form.cfm <http://mcconnell.senate.gov/contact_form.cfm>
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