Baby DNA Warehouse bill - ACT NOW!

Baby DNA Warehouse bill - ACT NOW!

There's been a delay! Worries about the bill are growing. The Health Department's Baby DNA Warehouse and Genetic Research bill, S.F. 3138, was supposed to be heard tonight (Wed, 5/7), but it wasn't.

However, the bill will probably come up tomorrow (Thur, May 8), so take action as soon as you read this!

Here's what happened. We heard that the Governor has suddenly taken an interest in the bill (lots of your citizen petitions!). Republicans who were ready to vote YES on the bill still erroneously thinking it was better than current law began changing their minds after CCHC began talking to them one on one outside the House chamber. And a Republican legislator has introduced a motion to return the bill to conference committee until it no longer eliminates consent. At 8:30 p.m. tonight, the Governor's head health care policy staffer suddenly appeared at the State Capitol. She was huddled with the author of the bill (Rep. Thissen (D-Mpls)) and three state health department lobbyists. CCHC then began sending in notes to both sides of the aisle telling them to vote NO on the bill because it eliminates informed parent consent requirements currently in law today. Not that much later, the House decided to adjourn and go home (11:00 p.m.)

The bill never came up for a vote! This gives us more time!

Please d o two things as soon as you read this:

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1) Contact your State Representative:
House Info: 651-296-2146
rep.firstname.lastname@house.mn

(use "VOTE NO - BABY DNA BILL" in the subject line of your email)

Give the following message:

Dear Representative_____________,

Please vote NO on S.F. 3138 (Thissen). It eliminates CURRENT informed parent consent requirements for the health department's baby DNA warehouse and genetic research program (See Sec. 1 of the bill). It unravels the 2006 genetic privacy law for everyone born after July 1, 1997 - the day the Minnesota Department of Health began to store baby blood illegally. Don't take away my consent rights, my human rights and my DNA property rights. I will watch carefully to see how you voted on this bill.

Sincerely

YOUR Name/Address/Phone (optional)

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2) Contact Governor Tim Pawlenty:
Call AND email if you can do both!
Phone: 651-296-3391(any hour of the day)
Toll-free - 1-800-657-3717
tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us

(use "PLEASE VETO BABY DNA BILL" in the subject line of your email)

Give the following message:

Dear Governor Pawlenty,

Please VETO S.F. 3138, the Baby DNA warehouse and government genetic research bill. Opt-in informed parent consent should not be eliminated from current law. Informed consent should be a basic legal requirement before government can keep and do research on the DNA and genetic codes of citizens.

Sincerely,

YOUR Name/Address/Phone (optional)