by
Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 19, 2005
Washington,
DC (LifeNews.com) -- House and Senate leaders on Saturday reached
a compromise on legislation to help protect Terri Schiavo. The agreement
would allow the House of Representatives to reconvene to pass the bill
approved by the Senate on Thursday.
Last week, the House and Senate passed different versions of a bill allowing Terri's parents to take their lawsuit seeking to prevent Terri's painful starvation death to federal courts. The House bill addressed all cases of disabled people in situations similar to Terri's while the Senate's bill pertained only to the Terri Schiavo case.
The Senate passed its bill late Thursday, after House lawmakers had adjourned and began to catch plane flights back to their home districts for Easter recess.
However, Congressional officials held a news conference Saturday saying they have found a solution.
"We are confident that this compromise addresses everyone's concerns," House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, a Texas Republican said. "We are confident it will ... restore nutrition and hydration to Miss Schiavo."
Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, indicated the deal would allow the House to reconvene to pass the Senate version.
Reid reached the agreement with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, of Tennessee, and House lawmakers, according to a Reuters report.
Under the Senate bill, attorneys for Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, would be able to file a habeas corpus petition with federal courts seeking a review of the decision made by Florida courts to allow Michael to starve Terri to death.
The Schindlers and Congressional lawmakers hope federal courts will take the case and issue a stay that would allow the tube to be reinserted while the lawsuit proceeds.
The Senate will meet this afternoon to announce its adjournment and to pass a resolution allowing the House to reconvene to pass the bill as early as this afternoon or on Sunday.
"All sides agree that this is the best way to proceed," DeLay explained.
Related
web sites:
Terri's parents - http://www.terrisfight.org
