An Overview of the Presidential Candidates’ Stances on Human Genetics Issues

Wrangling over economic and national security issuesFederal oversight of genetic tests, create a
has left health and genetic discussions on theframework for genetic test review, promote
backburner in the presidential race. However, thetransparency by requiring information from federally
three leading candidates have been active on thesefunded biobanking initiatives to be publicly available,
issues during and prior to their time in the Senate.and evaluate direct-to-consumer marketing.
Barack Obama has encouraged personalized medicineStem Cell Research and Cloning
research and genetic test regulation; John McCain hasClinton, Obama, and McCain have supported federal
concentrated on stem cell research; and Hillary Clintonfunding of embryonic stem cell research. All three
has been active in all of these areas as well ascandidates voted in favor of the Stem Cell Research
newborn screening and genetic and environmentEnhancement Act of 2007, which would have
interactions.authorized human embryonic stem cell research with
Genomic Research and Personalized Medicinethe condition that the stem cells were from excess
Clinton’s and Obama’s past initiativesembryos donated from in vitro fertilization clinics. In
demonstrate their strong support for andSenate floor statements, McCain remarked that the
encouragement of the growth and application ofbill “promote[d] the benefits of stem cell research
genetics-based medicine. From 1998 to 2000, as Firstwhile maintaining clearly our ethical and moral values
Lady, Clinton held nine events called Millenniumand obligations” and that “[s]tem cell
Evenings at the White House. Each focused on aresearch has the potential to give us a better
different subject, and included a session titledunderstanding of deadly diseases and spinal cord
“Informatics Meets Genomics” that stressedinjuries affecting millions of Americans.” This bill
the development and importance of genetic research.passed the Senate and the House, but was vetoed
Obama has sponsored a genetics-related bill twice inby the President.
his approximately three years in the Senate; bothAll three candidates have opposed human cloning.
times the legislation stalled in Senate committees. HeThe Human Cloning Ban Act of 2005 was
stated that the goal of the Genomics andcosponsored by Clinton and Obama, and the Human
Personalized Medicine Act was “to secure theCloning Prohibition Act of 2007 was cosponsored by
promise of personalized medicine for all Americans byMcCain. Both bills are still in Senate committees.
expanding and accelerating genomics research andClinton again demonstrated her opposition to cloning
initiatives to improve the accuracy of diseaseby cosponsoring the Human Cloning Ban and Stem
diagnosis, increase the safety of drugs, and identifyCell Research Protection Act of 2005, which also
novel treatments.”never left the Senate committee to which it was
The bill would have required formal studies of geneticreferred. The bill was designed to build an ethical
technology in order to advance the field. It alsoframework for stem cell research by banning human
sought to move this field forward through a nationalcloning, prohibiting research on embryos after they
biobanking research initiative, and the 2006 versionare 14 days old (excluding any time they are stored
included support for local biobanking initiatives.at subzero temperatures), requiring informed consent
Additionally, it encouraged the movement of geneticof egg donors, mandating that eggs be donated and
technology from the research laboratory to the clinicnot sold or purchased, and requiring egg collection
through increased training of healthcare professionalssites to be separate from research laboratories.
and the creation of genetic screening tools,McCain cosponsored the Human-Animal Hybrid
diagnostics, and treatments from genomic informationProhibition Act of 2007, which is still in committee.
gathered from research initiatives.Due to a shortage of donated embryos from IVF
Obama attended the 2006 Genetics and Public Policytreatments, some researchers want to remove the
Center’s National Genetic Policy Summit. At thisnuclei of animal eggs and replace them with human
event, he highlighted “the unparalleled promiseDNA. After the embryos develop for up to two
genomics holds” of tailoring treatments toweeks, the stem cells would be removed and the
people’s individual genetics. However, he pointedembryos destroyed. Scientists would then grow the
out that few genetics-based tests had reached thestem cells, study their development and the causes
market. This is what prompted him to introduce theof diseases, and test treatments on the cells. The
Genomics and Personalized Medicine Act of 2006, heact would prohibit this practice, as well as the
told the audience. Through the bill, he said he hopedcreation of human-animal embryos for any other
to spur increased support for genomics,purpose, on ethical grounds.
modernization of the Food and DrugNewborn Screening
Administration’s process of evaluating geneticsClinton has cosponsored two bills related to newborn
tests, and the creation of a database of informationscreening, including introducing the Screening for
from the proposed national biobank.Health of Infants and Newborns Act (SHINE) in 2006
Genetic Privacyand 2007. In her introductory remarks, she highlighted
Clinton cosponsored the Genetic Nondiscrimination inthat “[e]arly detection by newborn screening can
Health Insurance and Employment Act (2001) and thelessen side effects or completely prevent progression
Equal Rights and Equal Dignity for Americans Act ofof many … disorders if medical intervention is
2003, which sought to outlaw genetic discriminationstarted early enough” and that “[e]very child
by employers and health insurance companies. Neithershould have access to tests that may prevent them
bill reached the Senate floor for a vote, but a similarfrom a life-threatening disease.” The bill aimed to
comprehensive anti- genetic discrimination bill, thehelp states strengthen their screening programs; to
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Acts (GINA) ofestablish procedures for newborn screening tests,
2003 and 2005, has passed twice in the Senate. Inreporting, and data standards for states; and to
both years, the bill passed unanimously but thencreate a database of “current educational and
stalled in the House.family support and services information, materials,
In 2003 Clinton and McCain voted in favor of the billresources, research, and data on newborn
– Obama was not yet elected to office. In herscreening.”
statement on this bill, Clinton said, “AmericansThe SHINE Act failed to progress past a Senate
have already shown that they will not fully participatecommittee, but its provision to create a database
in genetic research or take advantage of geneticwas incorporated into The Newborn Screening Saves
technologies until they believe that they areLives Act of 2007, which Clinton cosponsored. This bill
protected against genetic discrimination in healthalso would create a screening program at the National
insurance and employment.” She added,Institutes of Health, and it passed the Senate by
“Discrimination based on genetic informationunanimous consent and is awaiting committee
would be a step backward for civil rights and humanconsideration in the House.
dignity.” In 2005 Clinton was one of 25Genetics and Environmental Health
cosponsors of the bill, and both McCain and ObamaClinton introduced the Coordinated Environmental
voted in favor of it. In 2007 Clinton and ObamaHealth Network Act in 2004 and 2005 and in 2007 as
cosponsored the current version of GINA with 36the Coordinated Environmental Public Health Network
other Senators, but the Senate has not yet votedAct. This bill sought to build a network to track
on it.diseases and identify and address risks, particularly
Clinton also has addressed genetic discrimination inenvironmental risks, as well as “encourage
other ways than GINA. In her introduction to thecoordination between researchers and Federal, State,
“Informatics Meets Genomics” Millenniumand local entities, including the National Institutes of
Evening, Clinton asked, “How will we make sureHealth, for genetic studies on diseases associated
that knowledge about our genes is used to heal us,with environmental factors with an emphasis on
not deny us health insurance or jobs?”finding genetic risk factors and mutations associated
Additionally, in 2001 Senate floor statements, shewith such diseases.” In her introductory remarks
emphasized the need for Congress to addressfor the bill in 2007, Clinton emphasized the importance
genetic discrimination.of researching how genetic factors interact with the
Regulation of Genetic Testsenvironment to cause disease, and she highlighted
Obama called for increased genetic test regulation at“initiatives like the Human Genome Project”
the Center’s National Genetic Policy Summit andthat have made “incredible strides in our
in the Genomics and Personalized Medicine Act.understanding of the science of genetics, so that we
Among its provisions, the Genomics bill includescan better prevent and treat diseases.” The bill
“[improving] access to and appropriate utilizationcurrently sits with the Senate Committee on Health,
of valid, reliable and accurate molecular geneticEducation, Labor, and Pensions.
tests.” Obama stressed that that this wouldMcCain’s, Obama’s, and Clinton’s
require “greater attention to the quality ofinitiatives have promoted the growth and potential of
genetic tests, direct-to-consumer advertising, and usegenetics as well as encouraged increased federal
of personal genomic information.” He said heregulation in several areas of the field. All three
wanted the bill to increase the “safety, efficacy,candidates would bring to the office of the President
and availability of information about geneticthe potential for much-needed movement on
tests.” The bill would initiate a study regardinggenetics-related issues.