Thomas Daschle: “Yesterday we read the first news accounts of the first analysis ever of the human genetic code--what some have called…”

“Yesterday we read the first news accounts of the first analysis ever of the human genetic code--what some have called ``the blueprint of human life'' itself. Today, Senators Kennedy, Harkin, Dodd, and I are introducing a bill to make sure this stunning new knowledge is used to help Americans, not hurt them. Our bill is called the ``Genetic Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and Employment Act.'' It says simply that genetic information may not be used to discriminate against Americans in health insurance or employment. An identical measure will be introduced tomorrow in the House by more than 150 Republican and Democratic co-sponsors. The genetic revolution has the potential to dramatically improve health care. Genetic technology can greatly improve our ability to treat and even cure now-incurable illnesses. Genetic tests can tell whether a person is at risk of developing certain diseases years before symptoms appear, giving her either peace of mind--or critical time to reduce her risks. But the scientific and commercial value of the human genome project will be seriously undermined if people refuse to take genetic tests because they fear the results may be used against them. That is not just our opinion. That warning has been sounded repeatedly by the two men who understand genetic testing better than anyone in the world--the scientists in charge of the two teams that mapped the human genome. Dr. Craig Venter and Dr. Francis Collins.”