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SPECIAL ACTION ALERT: April 1, 2005
1) Stop Genetic Discrimination in
Life Insurance
Do a Mitzvah for the Jewish Community by taking action!
These Action Alerts are political capital for our lobbying effort
in Olympia. Taking the 5 minutes to read and respond to an Action
Alert is akin to a donation to the Jewish Community. Not a gift
of money, but a gift of advocacy. The Jewish Federation has an
agenda designed by its beneficiary agencies, and these legislative
priorities need the support of the community to survive. Devastating
cuts to nursing home funding, discriminatory practices by life
insurance companies and inadequate funding for vital refugee resettlement
programs will all be the consequences of not taking action! Legislators
DO read these emails and it DOES make a difference. Please, be
an active voice for the Jewish Community and respond to this Action
Alert! And when legislators respond to you, please let us know!
It is extremely helpful for us to know if a legislator has a question,
concerns, or supports the legislation.
HOW TO USE THIS ACTION ALERT:
Each week, we highlight several key issues before the Washington
State Legislature which have a direct impact on our community
and community agencies. This Action Alert contains brief summaries
of the key issues before the Legislature this week. It also provides
you with direct e-mail links to your legislators and Legislative
leaders. We provide you with a draft e-mail text which you can
directly send or which you can modify to better represent your
thoughts on an issue. When you send an e-mail, please be sure
to fill out all of the information so that your legislator can
directly respond to you.
In this Alert
Immediate action is needed! It is crucial that Senate Bill 5452
pass with no added amendments. Please take a minute to make this
clear
to your State Senator.
Adults
Issue: Genetic Discrimination in Life Insurance
Update: Senate Bill 5452 is now in the House; having passed the House Policy
Committee after being unanimously being passed out of the Senate. As
you
may
recall
from
the
past
few
years, Washington State was one of the last states to enact legislation that
would explicitly
protect the genetic information of individuals from being used in a discriminatory
manner.
As the Jewish community is aware, many communities have been shown to
have a higher propensity for a variety of cancer-linked genes in genetic studies
(i.e. African Americans with Sickle Cell Anemia and Eastern European Jews with
certain genes associated with breast cancer, ovarian cancer and Tay Sachs). And,
there have been abuses. There have been two national cases involving the improper
use of genetic information to discriminate against groups or individuals in employment
(Berkeley Labs and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad).
This legislation would protect from discrimination in Life Insurance by:
1) Prohibiting the use of genetic information to adjust premium or contribution
limits.
2) Prohibiting the use of genetic information as a condition of eligibility
for coverage.
3) Prohibiting group life insurance policy makers from using genetic
information in setting rates or making determinations concerning the rate or
amount of premium charged for a group life insurance or annuity policy, or in
the benefits payable.
Action: Contact your State Senator
and urge him or her to enact this legislation
Senate Bill 5452 is sponsored by Senators Franklin, Fairley, Steven, Roach, Benson,
Regala, Kline, Rockefeller, Rasmussen, and Kohl-Welles. Please remember to thank
them if they are your Senator.
For
a complete copy of the Bill and other information follow this link
Government Affairs
The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle
2031 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121
Phone: 206.774.2248
Fax: 206.443.0303
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The
Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle was established 1926. Our
Mission is to ensure Jewish survival and enhance the quality of Jewish
life locally, in Israel and worldwide.
The
Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle
2031 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121
Tel:
(206) 443-5400
Fax: (206) 443-0303
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