On April 27, 2007, I wrote “GINA: A Primer“, which was an introduction to the Genetic Nondiscrimination Act. Today, nearly a year later, the bill will most likely be voted on and passed by the Senate, the last step before being handed over to President Bush to sign into law (which he has indicated that he will do). As I wrote last April:
“GINA aims to protect individuals in a variety of different areas. The legislation would prohibit access to genetic information by insurance companies and would prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against an applicant based on genetic information, the refusal to submit genetic information, or for have been genetically tested in the past. Additionally, the Act would prohibit employers from using or collecting genetic information to make employment decisions. The Act also establishes a Genetic Nondiscrimination Study Commission that is charged with reviewing new developments in the field of genetics and advising Congress.”
This bill is considered by many to be an important first step in providing protections against the misuse of recent and future developments in genetic sequencing and analysis technology.
There is a great deal of information about today’s vote:
- The New York Times - Congress Near Deal on Genetic Test Bias Bill
- The Gene Sherpa - GINA will PASS! Thanks GTO!
- American Society of Human Genetics - Genetic Scientists Anticipate U.S. Senate Passage of GINA (pdf)
- CNN - Lawmakers back bill to ban genetic discrimination at work
- GenomeWeb Daily News - Senate to Vote on GINA Tomorrow … Finally
- Eye on DNA - GINA Nears Unanimous Consent Passage in U.S. Senate
- Women’s Bioethics Project - Genetic nondiscrimination bill finally coming up for Senate vote
- Genomeboy.com - A momentous hump day
There is also some very recent information from the Center for American Progress entitled “Genetic Nondiscrimination: Policy Considerations in the Age of Genetic Medicine” (full pdf report here). The Center (which I am not familiar with) also has a recent interview with a genetic counselor: “It’s All in the Genes (Or Is It?)”
Stay tuned!
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Note: There is a Senate schedule here which states that H.R. 493 (GINA) will be considered after (1) morning business at 9:30, and (2) after disposition of the Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement Act (which includes up to 2 hours of debate).
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