For the Relief of the Parents of Theresa Marie Schiavo

FOR THE RELIEF OF THE PARENTS OF THERESA MARIE SCHIAVO -- (House of Representatives - March 20, 2005)

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Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, it is Sunday evening, a time when those of us in the House of Representatives are usually not in session. But tonight is an unusual night and the circumstances before us are unusual.

It goes without saying that we of course are discussing the life and death of Terri Schiavo. The situation that Terri is in has been discussed here on this floor tonight already, and you only have to turn on the news or pick up a newspaper to learn about it. However, as I have watched, as I have listened, as I have read the news, I have been shocked at some of the inaccurate statements that have been made about Terri's condition.

The bottom line is that once Terri is dead, it will be too late to reconsider what else we will do. The truth is Terri is not brain dead. She is awake. She is aware of her surroundings. Terri is not on artificial life support. No extraordinary measures are being taken. She does need assistance in being fed, but that is not unusual. I have a perfectly healthy 1-year-old little boy, and he needs assistance in being fed, perhaps not through a feeding tube, but nonetheless he needs help.

As I said, this is an unusual situation. Usually Congress writes laws with a broad brush, but every once in a while an unusual situation will require special legislative action. That is a situation for us tonight, Mr. Speaker.

Tonight, the possible life or death of Terri Schiavo is before us. I ask my colleagues to support this legislation, and may we as a Nation continue to protect the most innocent and most vulnerable among us so that the United States of America will continue to be that light on the hill, that beacon of hope for all mankind.

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