[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 30 (Tuesday, March 11, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    ASSISTED SUICIDE RESTRICTION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 11, 1997

  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call my colleagues 
attention to the Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997, 
which I am introducing in the House of Representatives today. This 
bipartisan bill, which already has 100 cosponsors, will prevent the use 
of Federal tax dollars to subsidize or promote the practice of assisted 
suicide.
  A Wirthlin worldwide poll conducted last November indicated that 87 
percent of taxpayers objected to their tax dollars subsidizing assisted 
suicide. The Supreme Court has heard arguments arising from Second and 
Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals that ruled that assisted suicide is a 
constitutional right. Unless the Supreme Court overturns these 
opinions, physician-assisted suicide could become a legal, routine 
practice throughout our Nation, and taxpayers could discover that they 
are funding assisted suicide, regardless of their conscientious 
objections to the practice.
  The Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997 will preempt the 
use of taxpayer dollars by preventing programs funded by the Public 
Health Service block grants and others, such as Medicaid, Medicare, 
Indian health care, the military health care system and the Federal 
Employee Benefit plans, from paying for assisted suicide, euthanasia, 
or mercy killing.
  The bill does not affect a patient's right to reject or to 
discontinue medical treatment. It respects the wishes of the patient, 
and it respects the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship. It 
does not create any limitation regarding the withholding or withdrawing 
of medical treatment or of nutrition or hydration, nor does it affect 
funding for alleviating pain or discomfort for patients.
  In sum, the bill has the modest goal of keeping the Federal 
Government out of the business of assisted suicide. Mr. Speaker, I 
believe that we must be proactive in addressing this issue--rather than 
be forced to deal with it after the fact--and that is what we hope to 
accomplish with this legislation.
  I urge my colleagues to give this bill their serious consideration 
and support.

                          ____________________