Hadassah praised the U.S. House of Representatives for passing a genetic non-discrimination act.
The legislation, which passed Wednesday by a vote of 420-3, would “afford its citizens protection from discrimination based on genetic information by insurance carriers and employers,” Hadassah said in a statement. “Since each one of us carries genetic mutations – which may or may not express themselves during our lifetimes as painful and debilitating conditions – this is good news for every American.”
The bill now goes to the Senate, and President Bush has indicated he will sign it, Hadassah said. The legislation has been shelved in the previous five Congresses under Republican leadership, but was pushed forward by Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the new House speaker. At different stages, insurance carriers and then business owners had opposed the bill.
