A Washington Surprise in Terri Schiavo Case

I am delighted that the U.S. House of Represenatives approved a bill protecting Terri Schiavo.  A similar measure is now before the U.S. Senate.  Congressman Dave Weldon of Florida told me on my radio broadcast yesterday that he would do everything possible to get the measure approved.  He certainly succeeded.  I am not sure anyone expected the movement in the House to occur so quickly and with such wide bi-partisan support exhibited with a voice vote.  Drew Ryun, our Director of Governmental Affairs, is just back from Florida and is working the issue on Capitol Hill.  He tells me that it is possible the Senate could approve legislation later today and have it on the President's desk tonight or tomorrow morning.  This is a very important development.  If federal legislation is signed into law protecting Terri from removal of her feeding tube -- scheduled to take place 24 hours from now -- I am hopeful that a stay would be issued in Terri's case.  Florida attorney David Gibbs, who is representing Terri's parents, would be in federal court immediately and the legal challenges would begin instantly to the new legislation.  I am assembling our senior legal team in Washington to begin to prepare briefs in defense of the federal law to be filed at the appropriate time on behalf of members of Congress.

I want to bring you an update on the legislative action in Florida.  Both chambers there are still trying to work out differences in language between two bills - one in the House and the other in the Senate.  Drew Ryun, who spent the week in Florida on this issue, told me he is concerned about passage of such a measure.  It is very important to have two laws in place protecting Terri - one on the state level and the other at the federal level.  This will give us the best opportunity possible to protect her life while the constitutionality of these laws are litigated.

I will keep you posted as developments unfold later today with updates in the trial notebook section of our website.  And I want to say thanks to the nearly 40,000 people who have signed on to our petition in support of Terri.  Your voice is making a difference.  As we continue to press for legislation to be approved in both Florida and in Washington, D.C. I want to encourage you to add your name to our petition right now.  This is the day to do it.  You can either call toll-free at 1-877-989-2255 or add your name electronically to our petition posted online.  Please continue to pray for Terri Schiavo, her family and the attorneys and lawmakers working on this case.