109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 653 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 20, 2005 

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

AN ACT 

For the relief of the parents of Theresa Marie Schiavo. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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1 SECTION 1. RELIEF OF THE PARENTS OF THERESA MARIE 

2 SCHIAVO. 

3 The United States District Court for the Middle Dis4 trict of Florida shall have jurisdiction to hear, determine, 

5 and render judgment on a suit or claim by or on behalf 

6 of Theresa Marie Schiavo for the alleged violation of any 

7 right of Theresa Marie Schiavo under the Constitution or 

8 laws of the United States relating to the withholding or 

9 withdrawal of food, fluids, or medical treatment necessary 

10 to sustain her life. 

11 SEC. 2. PROCEDURE. 

12 Any parent of Theresa Marie Schiavo shall have 

13 standing to bring a suit under this Act. The suit may be 

14 brought against any other person who was a party to State 

15 court proceedings relating to the withholding or with16 drawal of food, fluids, or medical treatment necessary to 

17 sustain the life of Theresa Marie Schiavo, or who may act 

18 pursuant to a State court order authorizing or directing 

19 the withholding or withdrawal of food, fluids, or medical 

20 treatment necessary to sustain her life. In such a suit, the 

21 District Court shall determine de novo any claim of a vio22 lation of any right of Theresa Marie Schiavo within the 

23 scope of this Act, notwithstanding any prior State court 

24 determination and regardless of whether such a claim has 

25 previously been raised, considered, or decided in State 

26 court proceedings. The District Court shall entertain and 
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1 determine the suit without any delay or abstention in favor 

2 of State court proceedings, and regardless of whether rem3 edies available in the State courts have been exhausted. 

4 SEC. 3. RELIEF. 

5 After a determination of the merits of a suit brought 

6 under this Act, the District Court shall issue such declara7 tory and injunctive relief as may be necessary to protect 

8 the rights of Theresa Marie Schiavo under the Constitu9 tion and laws of the United States relating to the with10 holding or withdrawal of food, fluids, or medical treatment 

11 necessary to sustain her life. 

12 SEC. 4. TIME FOR FILING. 

13 Notwithstanding any other time limitation, any suit 

14 or claim under this Act shall be timely if filed within 30 

15 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 

16 SEC. 5. STAY. 

17 Upon the filing of a suit or claim under this Act, the 

18 District Court may issue a stay of any State court order 

19 authorizing or directing the withholding or withdrawal of 

20 food, fluids, or medical treatment necessary to sustain the 

21 life of Theresa Marie Schiavo pending the determination 

22 of the suit. 
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1 SEC. 6. NO CHANGE OF SUBSTANTIVE RIGHTS. 

2 Nothing in this Act shall be construed to create sub3 stantive rights not otherwise secured by the Constitution 

4 and laws of the United States or of the several States. 

5 SEC. 7. NO EFFECT ON ASSISTING SUICIDE. 

6 Nothing is this Act shall be construed to confer addi7 tional jurisdiction on any court to consider any claim re8 lated— 

9 (1) to assisting suicide, or 

10 (2) a State law regarding assisting suicide. 

11 SEC. 8. NO PRECEDENT FOR FUTURE LEGISLATION. 

12 Nothing is this Act shall constitute a precedent with 

13 respect to future legislation. 

14 SEC. 9. NO AFFECT ON THE PATIENT SELF-DETERMINA15 TION ACT OF 1990. 

16 Nothing in this Act shall affect the rights of any per17 son under the Patient Self-Determination Act of 1990. 

Passed the Senate March 17, 2005. 

Attest: EMILY J. REYNOLDS, 

Secretary.