House of Representatives - March 17, 2005

BILL SAVING TERRI SCHIAVO

Mr. Speaker, 

Last night when H.R. 1332 was passed by the House this Chamber did a good thing. 

It offered to the disabled an opportunity to live and it reaffirmed our culture's desire to value the right to life of each and every member of it regardless of disability.

This bill gives Terri Schiavo a right to appeal the ruling of the Florida State courts in Federal court, and it will allow her to challenge the ruling that she is to starve to death.

The bill applies only to medically incapacitated patients, not to convicted criminals. And it is further evidence that the disabled have a place in our culture, that life has a place in our culture.

I commend the chairman of the committee, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon) for taking the lead and I thank the House leadership for expediting action on it. 

Now the Senate must do the same. Terri deserves to live.