Bush Signs Anti-Discrimination Bill

New Law Will Protect People From Genetic Discrimination

(AP)  President Bush on Wednesday signed legislation to protect people from losing their jobs or health insurance when genetic testing reveals they are susceptible to costly diseases.

Broadly embraced in Congress, the anti-discrimination measure aims to ensure that advances in DNA testing won't end up being used against people.

The new law forbids employers and insurance companies from denying employment, promotions or health coverage to people when genetic tests show they have a predisposition to cancer, heart disease or other ailments.

Bush praised the bill for protecting "our citizens from having genetic information misused."

Sponsors of the legislation call it a groundbreaking protection of civil rights. About a dozen of them gathered in the Oval Office as Bush signed the bill, but not Sen. Edward Kennedy, to whom the president paid particular tribute.

Kennedy, who learned this week that he has a malignant brain tumor, has called the genetic anti-discrimination bill "the first major new civil rights bill of the new century." The Democratic senator from Massachusetts left the hospital on Wednesday.

"All of us are so pleased that Senator Kennedy has gone home, and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family," Bush said.

People today have far more information about their hereditary disposition to crippling afflictions. Bill sponsors said that has increased the likelihood that insurers or employers might deny people work or insurance to avoid costly risks.

"This is a tremendous victory for every American not born with perfect genes - which means it's a victory for every single one us," said Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., one of the bill's key sponsors. "Since all of us are predisposed to at least a few genetic-based disorders, we are all potential victims of genetic discrimination."

Genetic tests look for alterations in a person's genes, and abnormal results can mean that someone has an inherited disorder. The tests look for signs of a disease or disorder in DNA taken from a person's blood, body fluids or tissues.

Researchers have supported the bill because Americans have been refusing to take genetic tests or have been using false names and paying cash because they didn't want the information used against them by their employer or insurance company.

The new law prohibits health insurance companies from using genetic data to set premiums or determine enrollment eligibility.

Federal law already bans discrimination by race and gender.

Congressional efforts to protect people from genetic discrimination go back more than a decade.

Genetic testing can lead to early, lifesaving therapy for a wide range of diseases with hereditary links such as breast and prostate cancer, diabetes, heart disease and Parkinson's disease. Yet increasingly, people fear that the data gleaned from such tests will be used against them.

A 2001 study by the American Management Association showed that nearly two-thirds of major U.S. companies require medical examinations of new hires.

Each person probably has six or more genetic mutations that place them at risk for some disease, according to the National Human Genome Research Institute.

The House voted 414-1 for the new legislation. The Senate passed it in a 95-0 vote.

[brainteaser2]

Employers ok. How about insurance companies who one day in the not too far distant future will be able to potentially deny you insurance coverage knowing you are at risk of developing lets say heart disease. A pre-existing condition? We all know insurance is about one thing risk vs. $$$

[brainteaser2]

Really what this law will prevent are insurance companies discriminating against you for lets say a genetic predisposition to heart dz, cancer or whatever. Also in the future they may not do or use genetic panels to not hire you. I''m sure there are myriad ways to get around the rules - like those stupid psychological profiles to determine if you can be in sales - but it does seem to be a rare moment of coherency for the bush.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Federal law already bans discrimination by race and gender."

Yet it is still an everyday occurrence. Think a law banning genetic discrimination will mean anything?

How about making the punishments for violation mandatory, uniform, per person, and not subject to judges discretion?

[nonayabiness]

This will be about as effective as FMLA. FMLA says you have the right to retun to work after an extended medical absense. What it DOESNT cover is how LONG someone is required to keep you at work, so, effectively, FMLA mandates you come back to 1 day of work. After that, you are on your own.

I know, I''ve been there. Recently.

[nonayabiness]

Posted by WogerWabbit at 10:28 PM : May 21, 2008

-If 10 people got ''fired'' or ''laid off'' due to having cancer, then why don''t you all file suit? This is blatant discrimmination.

-And, what do you mean about a 2 year ''waiting period'' on your health insurance? COBRA should pick up immediately, and there are no pre-existing conditions clauses.

[brianbwb-2009]

Well now, this is interesting.

Since ethnicity is determined by genetic makeup, and "racism" is the discrimination against people based on ethnicity, is it possible that Bush has outlawed "racism"?

Not a chance.

[idiobiblio]

In response to WogerWabbit:
"The House voted 414-1 for the new legislation.
So, who''s the 1? Definitly an easy target this November. Easy prey."

The House voted 414-1 for the legislation Thursday, a week after it passed the Senate on a 95-0 vote. The only member of Congress to vote against the bill was Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas.

"Because of the federal government''s poor record in protecting privacy, I do not believe the best way to address concerns about the misuse of genetic information is through intrusive federal legislation," Paul said.

While I agree that the government has a pretty shameful record of protecting individual''s privacy, I feel that Ron Paul is off the mark on this one.

[wogerwabbit]

The House voted 414-1 for the new legislation.

So, who''s the 1? Definitly an easy target this November. Easy prey.

[wogerwabbit]

I''ve already lost my job and health insurance for having cancer... in fact, at least 10 people in a company of 360 were fired... no, no, no... "laid off" over a 1 year period until there was nobody in the company that had cancer. I was laid off 3 months after cancer surgery and have paid tens of thousands of dollars out of my own pocket since then to stay alive... not to mention my $657 per month (after a 2 year waiting period) for my $5,000 deductible useless health insurance policy that pays nothing to nobody.

I already know what you a$$wipe neocons are going to say, so don''t bore me with your sleazy, self abusing comments. You wear your inhumanity like war medals and it will be the scarlet letter upon your chests when the Dems win in November.

You neocon ****** should be scared about the future... you''ve earned it, and paybacks are a *****. I understand we already have about 20 concentration camps already built for you traitorous mofo''s.

[walt1944-2009]

The Great Emperor Bush II made his "X" on a bill which forbids "genetic discrimination".

Such an act by the Great Emperor Bush actually approving a bill that prohibits discrimination is unheard of. Perhaps the Great Emperor, thinking of all those who might visit his library and for which he would charge a fee, has decided to do something "nice" for the citizens of the USSA.

It is also possible that the Great Emperor, realizing that the bill wasn''t going to cost the government anything, COULDN''T veto it, using his old excuse of it being "too expensive".

And for those who think that reason and compassion about the people of the USSA has finally seeped into the Great Emperor, DON''T BET ON IT!!!!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, DEFINITELY MORE OF THE SAME, McCain!!!

[walt1944-2009]

The Great Emperor Bush II made his "X" on a bill which forbids "genetic discrimination".

Such an act by the Great Emperor Bush actually approving a bill that prohibits discrimination is unheard of. Perhaps the Great Emperor, thinking of all those who might visit his library and for which he would charge a fee, has decided to do something "nice" for the citizens of the USSA.

It is also possible that the Great Emperor, realizing that the bill wasn''t going to cost the government anything, COULDN''T veto it, using his old excuse of it being "too expensive".

And for those who think that reason and compassion about the people of the USSA has finally seeped into the Great Emperor, DON''T BET ON IT!!!!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, DEFINITELY MORE OF THE SAME, McCain!!!

[canyoutellme-2009]

Hmm.. I agree with Bush on this one.

Wow... never thought i''d see the day.

I guess I want to see the legislation he actually signed to see if he put in a signing statement. Sorry, but i''m a bit skeptical that the Emperor George W Bush actually did something right.

[ringading3]

What you do not realize is that healthy straight people will pay much more for health and life insurance than they should pay.

[rafterman1]

===Cool.. Now being white might work to my advantage.===
Posted by cornbiker

Yeah, as if it never did before. White people, discriminated against throughout history. LOL.

[kevboom]

I think this is the first time I''ve agreed with the president in 7.5 years. Is hell freezing over?!

[irliberal]

Cool.. Now being white might work to my advantage..

Posted by cornbiker at 05:20 PM

Why would you think that? It certainly hasn''t helped your intelligence.

[randynason]

Does this also protect mothers who experience alcohol fetal syndrone like George''s mother Barbara? I understand that is why his ears are so pointed and his eyes are so tight-knit. I guess most people think that "impish" look to be part of his peculiar attraction, and not a birth defect.

-yawn-

[msay3]

Big Deal.....Employers can hire and fire at will....they just don''t divulge the real reason.

[barbaraf4]

"Bush Signs Anti-Discrimination Bill"

"All this time I thought he just couldn''''t write."
Posted by dragonwagon5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He signed it in crayon.

[hypnotoad72]

While there are times sarcasm can be fun, for health initiatives there is no place.

gopsoccermom -- Maybe I missed something, but where does the article mention employers won''t have to provide health insurance? Besides, "Darwinism" is a many splintered term...