President George W. Bush is backing legislation to prevent people from losing their jobs or health insurance based on genetic testing.

Bush on Wednesday signed into law an anti-discrimination measure that drew enormous support in Congress. It forbids employers and insurance companies from denying employment, promotions or health coverage to people when genetic tests show they are prone to cancer, heart disease or other ailments.

Sponsors of the legislation call it a groundbreaking protection of civil rights.

"It protects our citizens from having genetic information misused, and this bill does so without undermining the basic premise of the insurance industry," Bush said.

People today have far more information about their hereditary disposition to crippling afflictions. Bill sponsors said that has increased the likelihood that insurers or employers will deny people work or insurance to avoid costly risks.

At the signing ceremony, Bush paid tribute to Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who announced Tuesday that he had a malignant brain tumor. He was transported to his home from a Boston hospital Wednesday morning.

"Sen. Ted Kennedy, has worked for over a decade to get this piece of legislation to a president's desk," he said. "All of us are so pleased that Senator Kennedy has gone home, and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."