[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 11]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    OREGON'S DEATH WITH DIGNITY ACT

 Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, consistent with my practice of 
announcing publicly my intent to object to unanimous consent requests, 
I am asking to have printed in the Record a letter to Senator Reid 
dated January 18, 2006. It explains that I will use every legislative 
and procedural tool at my disposal as a U.S. Senator to block any 
attempt to affect in any way Oregon's Death With Dignity Act, which the 
Supreme Court upheld yesterday.
  The letter follows.


                                                  U.S. Senate,

                                 Washington, DC, January 18, 2006.
     Hon. Harry Reid,
     Minority Leader,
     The Capitol, Washington, DC.
       Dear Leader Reid: I am writing to inform you of my intent 
     to object to any unanimous consent request to consider any 
     measure or matter that might affect end of life care 
     generally and Oregon's Death With Dignity Act in particular.
       As you know, the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday upheld 
     Oregon's unique Death with Dignity Act, and I intend to use 
     every legislative and procedural tool at my disposal as a 
     United States Senator to block any attempt to overturn, 
     invalidate or otherwise affect Oregon's law in any way.
       Consistent with my practice of publicly announcing my 
     intent to place a ``hold'' on a measure or matter, I will ask 
     that this letter be printed in the Congressional Record. If 
     your staff has any questions, please feel free to contact my 
     Legislative and Policy Director, Carole Grunberg, or my 
     Senior Health Policy Advisor, Stephanie Kennan at 224-5244.
           Sincerely,
                                                        Ron Wyden,
     U.S. Senator.

                          ____________________