CONGRESS PASSES NEW GENE LAWS
                                                                            by CHRISTINA WON

            Congress finally passed the "Gene Laws" today to ban discrimination against workers based on their genetic makeup.
The new "gene" laws prohibit employers from requesting or requiring genetic tests or genetic information as a condition of hiring or for determining what benefits a person could receive. Employers also can not use genetic information to limit job opportunities. The laws would also protect workers by requiring their explicit permission to disclose results gathered from genetic tests. The laws also recognize that it is equally important to support legislation to protect research participants and patients from misusing their genetic information.
"The fear of genetic discrimination is causing Americans to avoid genetic tests that could save their lives," said New York Senator Clarence Leigh. "Genetic progress should not become a new excuse for discrimination. Genetic discrimination is wrong, and it’s time to end it."
            Congress has spent the last fifty years trying to craft a bill to ban genetic discrimination. After hearing testimony from lobbyist groups and insurance companies, Congress unanimously voted to ban genetic discrimination. The bill passed within a few hours and President John Kennedy V signed the bill the next day.
Meanwhile, insurance groups are still fiercely opposed to legislation that would limit their ability to use genetic information to assess insurance risk.
            Lawmakers in both the House and Senate have introduced several problems that might arise, and the House Commerce Committee has appointed a task force to closely investigate any violations.
"We want to make sure the social policy keeps up with the science," said Representative New Jersey Gary Ochra.