FLORIDA SENATORS WHO ARE UNDECIDED OR AGAINST THE BILL
"Some Senate Republicans say they haven't decided if they will support the bill, including Victor Crist of Tampa, Lee Constantine of Altamonte Springs, Jeff Atwater of North Palm Beach and Rudy Garcia of Hialeah."
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/17/Tampabay/US_House_acts_to_save.shtml
"Two Republican senators, Nancy Argenziano of Dunnellon and J.D. Alexander of Lake Wales, said they will vote against the bill. They were among the six Republican senators who voted against the 2003 bill."
PLEASE CALL THE FLORIDA SENATORS TO URGE THEM TO SUPPORT HB 701
UNDECIDED:
Senator Victor Crist
Phone: (850) 487-5068
E-mail: Email: crist.victor.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Lee Constantine
Phone: (850) 487-5050
E-mail: constantine.lee.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Jeff Atwater
Phone: (850) 487-5100
E-Mail: atwater.jeffrey.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Rudy Garcia
Phone: (850) 487-5106
E-Mail: garcia.rudy.web@flsenate.gov
AGAINST THE BILL:
Senator Nancy Argenziano
Phone: (850) 487-5017
E-mail: argenziano.nancy.web@flsenate.gov
Senator J.D. Alexander, Majority Whip
Phone: (850) 487-5044
E-mail: alexander.jd.web@flsenate.gov
House Passes Sensenbrenner/Weldon Legislation Protecting Terri Schiavo
3/16/2005 11:54:00 PM
To: National Desk
Contact: Jeff Lungren or Terry Shawn, 202-225-2492, both of House Committee on the Judiciary
WASHINGTON, March 16 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The House tonight by voice vote passed H.R. 1332, the "Protection of Incapacitated Persons Act of 2005."
H.R. 1332 now moves to the Senate for consideration. House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.), who introduced H.R. 1332 with Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Fla.), delivered the following remarks during the debate: "I rise today in support of H.R. 1332, the Protection of Incapacitated Persons Act of 2005, which I introduced today with the gentleman from Florida, Dr. Weldon.
"Mr. Speaker, the Florida courts are poised to determine that Terri Schiavo will have her feeding tube removed on Friday. This legislation will protect Ms. Schiavo from starving to death by allowing her to have a federal court consider her case anew, unrestricted by the findings of the state court.
"H.R. 1332 authorizes the removal of cases in State court to U.S. federal court to vindicate the federal rights of incapacitated persons under the U.S. Constitution or any federal law. Such proceedings would be authorized after an incapacitated person has exhausted available State remedies and the relevant papers must be filed in federal court within 30 days after the exhaustion of available State remedies.
"What's going on in Florida regarding Terri Schiavo is nothing short of inhumane. She's facing what amounts to a death sentence, ensuring she will slowly starve to death over a matter of weeks. Terri Schiavo -- a woman who smiles and cries and who is not on a respirator or any other 24-hour-a-day medical equipment -- has committed no crime and she has done nothing wrong. Yet the Florida courts seem bent on setting an extremely dangerous precedent by saying we must stop feeding someone who can't feed herself. Who's next -- the disabled or those late in life?
This legislation is the humane and right thing to not only protect Terri Schiavo, but also to reinforce the law's commitment to justice and compassion for all, especially the most vulnerable.
"This bill applies to anyone who might find themselves in Terri Schiavo's situation, namely those who are in an incapacitated state and facing a court order authorizing 'the withdrawal or withholding of food or fluids or medical treatment necessary to sustain the incapacitated person's life.' The bill applies only to medically incapacitated persons and not to convicted criminals or those facing the death penalty, for example.
"Furthermore, it applies only to those who have not executed in advance a written directive -- commonly known as a 'living will' -- that clearly authorizes the withholding or withdrawal of food, water, and medical treatment in the event the person becomes incapacitated.
"What Terri Schiavo and all disabled people deserve, in contested cases, is for justice to tilt toward life. When a person's intentions regarding whether to receive life-saving treatment are unclear, the clear choice is to provide an innocent person with the opportunity to have a federal court provide a 'double-check' for life under federal law -- unencumbered by the decisions of a state court. A measure of a Nation's commitment to innocent life is measured in its laws by the extent to which the laws go to save it. This bill takes that extra step, not just for Terri Schiavo, but for all of us. I urge every Member of this House to take that step with me, and overwhelmingly pass this bill."
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=44508