Date: 2008-05-01
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. overstated. I rise today in support of H.R. 493. the Ge- This bill will guarantee more comprehensive netic NonDiscrimination Act. This bill is the protections from discrimination in health insurproduct of 10 years of hard work by my col- ance and employment on the basis of genetic league Ms. SLAUGHTER and I applaud her for information. Specifically. it will prohibit group her efforts to pass this bill. health plans and health insurers from denying The sequencing of the human genome was coverage to a healthy individual or chargingan amazing scientific advancement. and has that person higher premiums based solely on contributed to the rise of genetic testing to in- a genetic predisposition to develop a disease form patients of their proclivity for disease. in the future. Furthermore. it bars employers. Thanks to genetic testing. individuals with a employment agencies. labor organizations or risk of an illness can take precautionary steps training programs from using an individuals ahead of time to ward off disease. which will genetic information when making hiring. firing. contribute to lower health care costs over job placement or promotion decisions. time. Genetics is a field of study that offers treHowever. it is critical that we protect individ- mendous promise for medical advancement. uals from any discrimination that could result but we must give thoughtful consideration to from the information these tests reveal. the implications of these emerging discoveries The results should not be used by health in- on society. No individual should fear discrimisurers to deny anyone coverage or increase nation based on genetic technologies. H.R. their premiums because of a predisposition to 493 will allay concerns about the potential for a certain disease. discrimination. encourage individuals to particiAnd the results should not be used by em- pate in genetic research. and take advantage ployers to discriminate against employees of genetic testing. new technologies. arid new based on their predisposition to disease. therapies. I thank Congresswoman SLAUGHTER The passage of this bill will encourage indi- for her leadership on this issue and urge my viduals to seek genetic testing if they so de- colleagues to support its passage. sire without fear of losing their health insur- Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker. I rise in support ance and give them the ability to seek early of H.R. 493. the Genetic Information Nonmedical treatment. discrimination Act. GINA. One segment of the health care market- After 13 yearsthis bill will finally make its place was excluded from the bills protec- way to the Presidents desk. to help protect tionsthe longterm care insurance market. families from genetic discrimination. This bill was never intended to regulate the Congratulations to the Congresswoman longterm care insurance market. and I under- from New York. Ms. SLAUGHTER. for her work stand that current statute treats longterm care in drafting this bill and guiding it through the insurance differently. cumbersome referral to three committees. However. individuals that determine that Together. with Chairman DINGELL. Ms. they are at highrisk for developing Alz- DEGETTE and Mr. SMITH. we were able to inheimers disease will undoubtedly begin plan- clude an important provision to protect families ning for their longterm care and probably pur- from unfair treatment on the basis of the gechase longterm care insurance. netic material of their fetuses or children in the Despite all of the good intentions in this leg- process of adoption. islation. the bill would allow longterm care in- Without this bill. families may face genetic surance underwriters to refuse to cover or information discrimination from testing of emcharge individuals predisposed to such dis- bryos and fetuses. as well as children who are ease higher premiums for a disease they have in the process of adoption. yet to develop and may never develop. As genetic testing becomes increasingly As we move forward. Congress should en- common. these provisions will ensure that gesure that future legislation extends the patient netic material gathered through preimplemenprotections inherent in this bill to consumers tation genetic diagnoses. amniocentesis. or who want to plan for their future and purchase other future techniques is not used to limit longterm care. families access to health care. With that. I am pleased to support this im- Again. I thank Ms. SLAUGHTER for her comportant legislation and send this bill to the mitment to reflect these changes throughout President. the bill in order to avoid. any further confusion