HD Blog

Attached please find a list of Republican House representatives who endorsed the 106th Congress’ version of the Genetic Nondiscrimination Act but have yet to sign onto the new 107th Congress version (HR 1910). Please send each of them a copy of the letter from Rep. Slaughter to urge them to contact the Speaker of the House to move this important legislation to the forefront.

We cannot allow this issue to be waylaid until the second half of this Congressional session. Your elected representatives will be recessing for the holidays at Thanksgiving. We must take action now! Please contact one or more of the House representatives listed below TODAY! If you need phone numbers or emails, please go to the HDSA national web site at www.hdsa.org, (or got straight there by going to http://econstituent.votenet.com/hdsa) click on “Advocacy, ” then click on "Write your Congressman" and then "Econstituent". You will be taken to the home page for this advocacy tool. Follow the easy to use instructions to access email and phone numbers for specific representatives.

Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA)
Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-NJ)
Rep. Jim Gibbons (R-NV)
Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)
Rep. Melissa Hart (R-PA)
Rep. Tom Osbourne (R-NE)
Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN)
Rep. Charles Taylor (R-NC)
Rep. Todd Tihart (R-KS)
Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI)

The following DEMOCRATS have also not yet endorsed HR 1910:
Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA)
Rep. Richard Boucher (D-VA)
Re. Bud Cramer (D-AL)
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Rep. Greg Meeks (D-NY)
Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV)
Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-TX)
Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV)
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)
Rep. Vic Snyder (D-AR)
Rep. Charlie Stenholm (D-TX)
Please contact AFTER you contact the Republican representatives listed above.

Letter to above listed House Republicans and Democrats from Rep. Slaughter:

Dear Colleague:

You are invited to sign the attached letter to the House leadership, urging expedited consideration of S. 1053, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.

On October 14, the Senate passed S. 1053 unanimously, marking the first time Congress has addressed directly the issue of genetic discrimination in health insurance and employment. The product of more than two years of intensive negotiations, S. 1053 has the support of hundreds of organizations as well as the White House, which issued a positive Statement of Administration Policy.

Congress is already overdue in passing this important legislation. Too many Americans fear that the results of a genetic test could be used to deny them health insurance or a job. As a result, they are avoiding taking genetic tests or participating in genetic research. If we wish to safeguard the future of this research and ensure that all Americans can benefit from it, we must put in place a law that will ban genetic discrimination.

Please join us in urging the House leadership to bring up and pass S. 1053 as soon as possible. For more information, or to sign the letter, please contact Cindy Pellegrini with Rep. Slaughter at 53615.

Sincerely,

Louise Slaughter
Member of Congress

Sign On Letter from Representative to Speaker of the House:

Dear Mr. Speaker,

We urge you to schedule S. 1053, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, for House consideration as soon as possible.

Earlier this year, the National Human Genome Research Institute announced the complete mapping and sequencing of the human genome. This landmark achievement heralds a new era in medical research, with the potential of major advances in preventing, diagnosing, treating, and curing some of the most feared diseases known to humanity. Along with this tremendous promise, however, comes the possibility of the abuse of genetic information.

Every person is estimated to carry between five and fifty genetic mutations that predispose us to serious disorders. As such, we are all potential victims of genetic discrimination. Today no comprehensive federal law bans genetic discrimination in health insurance and employment. As a result, too many Americans are deciding not to take genetic tests because they fear this information could be used to undermine their health coverage or their jobs. This fear is also impacting genetic research, as fewer people are willing to participate in studies. Congress must act to rectify this situation, both to enable our constituents to make the best possible medical decisions for themselves and to preserve the viability of this critical research.

S. 1053, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, represents a reasonable compromise that takes into account both the concerns of patients and the needs of insurers and employers. This bill, which is sponsored jointly by majority and minority leadership in the Senate, is the product of almost two years of intensive discussion. It also enjoys the strong support of the White House. In the House of Representatives, a more expansive bill, H.R. 1910, has the support of over 220 bipartisan cosponsors and over 300 organizations. Clearly, there is ample support in the House to take up and pass genetic nondiscrimination legislation quickly and easily; S. 1053 would be an ideal candidate for consideration on the suspension calendar.

Timely passage of S. 1053 would represent a major victory for Congress, the White House, and the American people. We urge you to schedule this legislation for action so that it may be signed by the President before the first session of Congress adjourns.

Sincerely,

Louise Slaughter
Member of Congress Member of Congress