WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) today announced she is an original co-sponsor of S.318, The Genetic Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and Employment Act, which was introduced in the Senate by Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD) on February 13, 2001. The legislation would prohibit health insurers and employers from using genetic information to discriminate against indivduals in the health care system and the workplace.

More specifically:

• Protection in Employment: The bill prohibits the use of genetic information for hiring, advancement, salary or other work place rights and privileges.

• Protection in Health Insurance: The bill prohibits insurers from raising premiums or denying coverage based on the results of genetic tests, and from disclosing the results of genetic tests without consent.

• Legal Protections: The legislation allows people who have suffered genetic discrimination in the work place or by health insurance agencies to sue the violator.

"From the first day I entered Congress, I have fought against all forms of discrimination," said Senator Mikulski. "People should be judged on the basis of their individual skills, competence, and character, and nothing else."

"Genetic discovery will be a cornerstone of 21st century science, opening the door for enormous advances in health care. But it will also open the door to possible privacy violations and discrimination," continued Mikulski. "With the recent completion of the analysis of the human genome, much of which was done in my own state of Maryland, we are facing cases of discrimination based on genetic information."

"I've heard stories from Marylanders who get genetic testing and end up being denied insurance coverage or losing their jobs," said Mikulski. "This is an outrage. Americans shouldn't be afraid that getting a genetic test will cost them their job or be used against them."

"We need to find balance between genetic information flow and genetic privacy," said Mikulski. "I will fight against this type of prejudice just as I have fought against all other forms of discrimination throughout my career - with passion and determination. This bill will be an important tool in leading that fight."

Maryland is leading the way in protecting people from genetic discrimination. In December, 2000, Montgomery County became the first local jurisdiction in the nation to pass a bill forbidding job discrimination based on a person's genetic code. Celera Genomics Corp. of Rockville, a leader and pioneer in producing a map of the human genetic code, is located in Montgomery County.

Senator Mikulski supported legislation similar to this year's Genetic Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and Employment Act in the 106th Congress. S. 1322 was offered as an amendment last year to the Labor, Health & Human Services Appropriations legislation (S. Amdt. 3688 to H.R. 4577) which was signed into law by the President on December 21, 2001. Although the final appropriations bill was signed by President Clinton, S.1322, as an amendment, failed on the Senate floor and was not included in the final legislation.

This bill was referred to the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, of which Senator Mikulski is a member.