GINA Passes House

The House passed the "Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act," H.R.493, by a vote of 420-3. The bill would make it unlawful for an employer, employment agency, labor organization or training program to deprive or deny an individual of employment opportunities because of genetic information.

It would also prohibit insurers from using genetic information to determine eligibility or establish differential premiums.

Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, said that although breakthroughs have opened the door to early detection of disease, genetic information can be used to unfairly discriminate against individuals unless protections are put into place.