[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 68 (Thursday, April 26, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H3586-H3587]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           BRITISH OFFICIALS ARE HOLDING ALFIE EVANS CAPTIVE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ROTHFUS. Mr. Speaker, as someone who went to grade and high 
school in the 1970s, I learned about countries, particularly the Soviet 
Union and its Eastern European satellites, that severely limited the 
right of their people to travel. In effect, they were prisoners in 
their own country.
  Indeed, in postwar Germany, the Communists even built a wall through 
Berlin. They did so not to keep people from West Berlin from traveling 
to East Berlin; they did it to prevent the captives of East Berlin from 
running to freedom in the West.
  There is a tragic story unfolding in Britain this week of a new, 
virtual Berlin Wall that British and European authorities have erected 
around little 2-year-old Alfie Evans, who lives in Britain. They have 
eliminated this child's right to travel, and they are holding him 
prisoner.
  Alfie is severely handicapped. British officials have made the 
decision, over the objection of Alfie's young parents, that Alfie would 
be better off dead. As such, they are prohibiting Alfie's parents from 
taking him to Bambino Gesu hospital in Rome, which has offered to care 
for the boy.

  Alfie is not suffering, but British officials appear to be projecting 
their own subjective views on Alfie's quality of life and are deeming 
his life not worthy of living.
  Among my most heartwarming experiences in my work in my district are 
visits to residences of the severely handicapped. I have visited with 
individuals who will never walk and who will never communicate 
verbally. But they can and do love, and they are loved.

[[Page H3587]]

  For some folks in life, their calling is that simple, to love and be 
loved; and their presence makes us better persons. Perhaps that is 
Alfie's calling, to love and be loved. Maybe those in Britain 
responsible for Alfie's faith should consider that.
  To be clear, Alfie's right to life does not come from Parliament; it 
doesn't come from the crown; it doesn't come from any British court. It 
comes from God.
  Mr. Speaker, the British authorities should back down. They should 
allow Alfie's parents to take him to Bambino Gesu hospital in Rome. The 
British authorities should tear down the virtual wall they have put up 
around him and let him be free so he can continue to love and be loved.

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