Bush signs historic Schiavo bill into law
{{date|March 21, 2005}}
{{missing image|Image:HouseofRepsSchiavo3.jpg|200px|right|The House passed the bill by a vote of 203-58|thumb}}
[[George W. Bush|President Bush]] approved a historic bill designed to keep brain-damaged [[Terri Schiavo]] on life-support, shortly after it was sent to him by the [[US House of Representatives]].

"Today, I signed into law a bill that will allow federal courts to hear a claim by or on behalf of Terri Schiavo for violation of her rights relating to the withholding or withdrawal of food, fluids, or medical treatment necessary to sustain her life," said Bush's written statement.

Bush waited at the [[US White House|White House]] for the bill's arrival and signed it into law after returning early from a vacation at his Texas ranch.

The House passed the bill by a vote of 203&ndash;58 shortly after midnight in a rare Sunday session called at 9pm that night. Democrats objected to a call for unanimous consent earlier in the day. Although most members had left for the Easter break, 261 of the 435 House members returned for the vote.

Representatives debated the measure in the House from both sides.

Rep. {{w|James Sensenbrenner}}, a [[Wisconsin]] [[Republican Party (US)|Republican]], said of previous rulings in [[Florida]] that they were "enforcing a merciless directive to deprive Terri Schiavo of her right to life." He continued that the House should "reinforce the law's commitment to justice and compassion for all Americans, particularly the most vulnerable."

[[Democratic Party (US)|Democrat]] {{w|Robert Wexler}} of Florida disagreed, saying "Tonight this Congress is about to commit a travesty. Tonight congressional leaders are poised to appoint this Congress as a judge and a jury."

The [[United States Senate|US Senate]] had passed the bill by unanimous consent earlier in the day.

Terri Schiavo has been on life-support for over 15 years, and is currently cared for at a Florida hospice. She is considered by physicians to be in a "permanent vegetative state", while her parents contend that she is viable and that there is hope for recovery. Schiavo's feeding tube was removed on Friday after Florida courts ruled in favor of her husband, Michael Schiavo, who acts as her legal guardian in the matter. Terri Schiavo's siblings, and her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, challenge this decision.

"We are very very thankful to have crossed this bridge," said Suzanne Vitadamo, Terri Schiavo's sister. "We are hopeful, we are very hopeful, that the federal courts will follow the will of Congress and save my sister's life."

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aneLrqWzOIMM&refer=us
|title=Bush Signs Law Allowing Federal Courts to Review Schiavo Case
|author=
|pub=Bloomberg
|date=March 21, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7955021
|title=Bush Signs Emergency Schiavo Legislation
|author=
|pub=Reuters
|date=March 21, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1328130.htm
|title=US Senate intervenes in euthanasia
|author=Leigh Sales
|pub=The World Today
|date=March 21, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050321/D88V6PR00.html
|title=Bush Signs Bill That May Let Schiavo Live
|author=[[Associated Press|AP]]
|pub=My Way news
|date=March 21, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/03/20/schiavo/index.html
|title=House passes Schiavo bill
|author=
|pub=CNN
|date=March 21, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N21262996.htm
|title=U.S. Congress sends Schiavo bill to Bush
|author=AlertNet
|pub=Reuters
|date=March 21, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7231440/
|title=The time has come to let Terri Schiavo die
|author=Arthur Caplan, Ph.D
|date=March 18, 2005
|pub=MSNBC}}

==External links==
*{{source|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52734-2005Mar21.html
|title=The Battle for Schiavo
|author=
|pub=The Washington Post
|date=March 21, 2005}} ''Timeline of events in the case''

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{{archive}}

[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Terri Schiavo]]
[[Category:George W. Bush]]
[[Category:US Congress]]
[[Category:US House of Representatives]]
[[Category:US Senate]]
[[Category:Democratic Party (United States)]]
[[Category:Republican Party (United States)]]
[[Category:Florida]]

[[pl:Terri Schiavo będzie żyła]]
President Bush approved a historic bill designed to keep brain-damaged Terri Schiavo on life-support, shortly after it was sent to him by the US House of Representatives.

"Today, I signed into law a bill that will allow federal courts to hear a claim by or on behalf of Terri Schiavo for violation of her rights relating to the withholding or withdrawal of food, fluids, or medical treatment necessary to sustain her life," said Bush's written statement.

Bush waited at the White House for the bill's arrival and signed it into law after returning early from a vacation at his Texas ranch.

The House passed the bill by a vote of 203–58 shortly after midnight in a rare Sunday session called at 9pm that night. Democrats objected to a call for unanimous consent earlier in the day. Although most members had left for the Easter break, 261 of the 435 House members returned for the vote.

Representatives debated the measure in the House from both sides.

Rep. , a Wisconsin Republican, said of previous rulings in Florida that they were "enforcing a merciless directive to deprive Terri Schiavo of her right to life." He continued that the House should "reinforce the law's commitment to justice and compassion for all Americans, particularly the most vulnerable."

Democrat  of Florida disagreed, saying "Tonight this Congress is about to commit a travesty. Tonight congressional leaders are poised to appoint this Congress as a judge and a jury."

The US Senate had passed the bill by unanimous consent earlier in the day.

Terri Schiavo has been on life-support for over 15 years, and is currently cared for at a Florida hospice. She is considered by physicians to be in a "permanent vegetative state", while her parents contend that she is viable and that there is hope for recovery. Schiavo's feeding tube was removed on Friday after Florida courts ruled in favor of her husband, Michael Schiavo, who acts as her legal guardian in the matter. Terri Schiavo's siblings, and her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, challenge this decision.

"We are very very thankful to have crossed this bridge," said Suzanne Vitadamo, Terri Schiavo's sister. "We are hopeful, we are very hopeful, that the federal courts will follow the will of Congress and save my sister's life."

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United States Politics and conflicts Crime and law North America Terri Schiavo George W. Bush US Congress US House of Representatives US Senate Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) Florida