Bart Stupak: “I rise in support of H.R. 493, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, GINA. After 13 years--this bill will…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 493, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, GINA. After 13 years--this bill will finally make its way to the President's desk, to help protect families from genetic discrimination. Congratulations to the Congresswoman from New York, Ms. Slaughter, for her work in drafting this bill and guiding it through the cumbersome referral to three committees. Together, with Chairman Dingell, Ms. DeGette and Mr. Smith, we were able to include an important provision to protect families from unfair treatment on the basis of the genetic material of their fetuses or children in the process of adoption. Without this bill, families may face genetic information discrimination from testing of embryos and fetuses, as well as children who are in the process of adoption. As genetic testing becomes increasingly common, these provisions will ensure that genetic material gathered through pre-implementation genetic diagnoses, amniocentesis, or other future techniques is not used to limit families' access to health care. Again, I thank Ms. Slaughter for her commitment to reflect these changes throughout the bill in order to avoid any further confusion as to whether or not families can be discriminated against on the basis of the genetic material of their unborn child or child under consideration for adoption. I was proud to work with many Members to include this provision. I encourage my colleagues to vote for this important legislation.”