42-40
bell boulevard bayside, new york
11361-2820 tel: 718 224 2999 fax: 718 279 9596
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Tracy Colletti-Flynn
718-224-2999
ext. 236
tracy.flynn@tsa-usa.org
Tourette Syndrome Association Applauds the Passage of Genetic
Information
Nondiscrimination
Act
Long-Awaited Legislation
Will Protect Against Healthcare and Employment Discrimination
BAYSIDE, NY, April 24,
2008 – The
national Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc. (TSA), hailed today’s
vote in the United States
Senate approving comprehensive legislation, the Genetic Information
Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), to ban genetic
discrimination in health insurance and employment. The
House of Representatives passed GINA in April
2007. “TSA has worked alongside of the
Genetic
Alliance to call upon the Senate to support
the procedural motions necessary to ensure the passage
of this bill and today, we
are very pleased with the passage of GINA in both the Senate and the
House,” said Judit Ungar, President of the Association. “For the past two
decades TSA has
been adamant in our support of
patient rights and protection. The American people cannot afford to
wait any longer for protection
against genetic discrimination,” she continued.GINA
(S. 358), would
make it illegal for health
insurers to raise premiums or deny coverage based on genetic information,
and would prohibit employers
from using such information for decisions on hiring, firing, promotions
or job assignments. Genetic
information, for the law’s purposes, would include not only tests that
determine variations in a person’s
DNA, but also a family history of a particular disease. But GINA
does not prohibit
discrimination once someone already has a disease, and some experts said such
protection would have to be the next
step. Passage of this initiative is crucial to ensuring the future of
genetic research and the ability
of all Americans to take advantage of genetic tests without fear that the
information obtained will be used
against them. “We attribute this historic victory to the bipartisan
support for the bill. With each
passing day, Congressional co-sponsors were being added to GINA,
resulting with a record high roster of Congressional
supporters, and we know it is due in part to TSA’s
Trips to the Hill, letters
of support, and calls for action for GINA that have made such a difference.
There is truly power in numbers,” said Ms.
Ungar.TSA wishes to thank Congress for working to
provide fundamental protections
against the misuse of genetic information especially in health
insurance coverage and employment
situations. Especially, TSA acknowledges the sponsors of
the bill, Rep. Louise
Slaughter (D-NY) and Rep. Judy Biggert (R, IL), Senators Olympia Snowe
(R-ME), and Edward Kennedy, chairman of the
Senate Health Committee, for their leadership
and efforts on this long
standing and critical issue of importance. In addition, TSA expresses its
gratitude to Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK)
for his views and support of GINA.
The Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA) is a membership driven,
non-profit organization dedicated
to providing comprehensive
programs of education, research and personal services to all people who
have Tourette Syndrome (TS)
and their families. Marked by involuntary twitching and vocal tics, TS is an
inherited, neurobiological disorder
frequently misunderstood and misdiagnosed that affects more than
200,000 Americans. Celebrating over 36 years
of service, TSA is a national voluntary organization that
directs a network of 30 chapters,
two regional offices and more than 150 support groups across the USA.
For more information call
1-888-4-TOURET or visit tsa-usa.org.
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