Folks!
We have an opportunity to prevent the insurance companies and employers from discriminating against people who have had their DNA tested and have health issues. The Genetic Information & Non-Discrimination Act 2007 (GINA) was presented to both houses of Congress in Jan 2007 and passed the House 420-3 in April 2007. The Senate has yet to vote on it because Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma has put a "hold" on the bill and is sticking to his guns on this. He has put holds on over 80 bills in the past. This guy either wants his 15 minutes of fame or is in someone's pocket. Who's to know, but the point is: The Majority Leader of the Senate (Senator Harry Reid of NV) can call for a vote if he allows 30 hours of debate first. Although this can take away from other duties the senate has lined up at this time, this bill is VITAL to ALL Americans since it protects us from insurance companies and employers refusing coverage or employment based on genetic testing. EVEN President Bush and his Administration are in favor of it. The Senate has enough votes to pass it, but Coburn is clogging up the works.
What can be done? Write your Senators, write Coburn and write Reid telling them how important it is to get this bill passed now and not wait until another Congress has to start from scratch. Medical science and geneticists will continue working on how DNA affects our health, but we need protections against the insurers and employers to protect our privacy. Do NOT be among the 90% of the people who do not write their Congress men and women. There are documented cases were 20 letters have changed a Senator's vote.
See this link, not only for a contest to win a free DNA kit, but for all the links to contact your senators, read more about the bill, etc.
www.isogg.org/savegina.htm
Please ACT.
Emily
Genetic Genealogist and Speaker
Slashdot Mirror
Folks! We have an opportunity to prevent the insurance companies and employers from discriminating against people who have had their DNA tested and have health issues. The Genetic Information & Non-Discrimination Act 2007 (GINA) was presented to both houses of Congress in Jan 2007 and passed the House 420-3 in April 2007. The Senate has yet to vote on it because Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma has put a "hold" on the bill and is sticking to his guns on this. He has put holds on over 80 bills in the past. This guy either wants his 15 minutes of fame or is in someone's pocket. Who's to know, but the point is: The Majority Leader of the Senate (Senator Harry Reid of NV) can call for a vote if he allows 30 hours of debate first. Although this can take away from other duties the senate has lined up at this time, this bill is VITAL to ALL Americans since it protects us from insurance companies and employers refusing coverage or employment based on genetic testing. EVEN President Bush and his Administration are in favor of it. The Senate has enough votes to pass it, but Coburn is clogging up the works. What can be done? Write your Senators, write Coburn and write Reid telling them how important it is to get this bill passed now and not wait until another Congress has to start from scratch. Medical science and geneticists will continue working on how DNA affects our health, but we need protections against the insurers and employers to protect our privacy. Do NOT be among the 90% of the people who do not write their Congress men and women. There are documented cases were 20 letters have changed a Senator's vote. See this link, not only for a contest to win a free DNA kit, but for all the links to contact your senators, read more about the bill, etc. www.isogg.org/savegina.htm Please ACT. Emily Genetic Genealogist and Speaker