Ban on Genetic-Test Bias May Pass Senate

By Rick Weiss
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, April 24, 2008

Capping 13 years of political wrangling, the Senate today is slated to pass landmark legislation that would prevent employers and health insurance companies from discriminating against people on the basis of genetic test results.

The House and Senate have passed similar legislation on several occasions over the years, but never in the same congressional session. Now, a number of political and economic forces have converged to assure passage, several Hill sources said yesterday. They include the decision of Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) to put the legislation on the front burner, and the growing use of DNA tests in modern health care. the rest