Rep. Joshua Eilberg (D.Pa.) has introduced legislation to establish a national program for the diagnosis, control, and prevention of Tay-Sachs disease. Eilberg said the measure authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare to initiate Tay-Sachs screening and counseling programs in existing health centers across the nation and to set up an information program about the disease. A total of $3 million is authorized for the plan.
“Approximately 700,000 Americans are afflicted with this disease which will affect one-fourth of all the children born to parents who both carry the gene mutation which causes it,” said Eilberg. “This means that one of 30 Americans of Eastern European Jewish descent or 90 percent of the U.S. Jewish population are potential parents of a Tay-Sachs child.” Eilberg noted.
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