[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 18]
[House]
[Page 25310]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               MORATORIUM ON DEHYDRATION CASES IN FLORIDA

  (Mr. WELDON of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, Terry Schiavo had her feeding 
tubes removed last Wednesday, and she may needlessly die. Last night, I 
spoke with Governor Jeb Bush about Terry, and he assured me that he and 
the Florida legislature are moving expeditiously to give him the powers 
to intervene to save her life and fulfill the wishes of Terry's 
parents. Terry's parents are in a last-minute battle to save her.
  Governor Bush and the Florida legislature are taking the necessary 
steps. Three years ago, the circuit court ordered Terry's feeding tubes 
to be withdrawn; and despite the objections of Terry's parents and 
request to take custody and care for her, all court cases have failed. 
Terry is not unconscious. Terry is not on life support. She is not 
dying of an underlying disease, and she is responsive to human 
interaction.
  This is a grave injustice. Yesterday, Governor Bush called for a 
special session to pass a moratorium on all dehydration cases in 
Florida. The Florida House passed this bill with Governor Bush's 
support, and the Florida senate will take it up today. Support the 
legislature and support Governor Bush in this effort to save this young 
lady's life.

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