I
104TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4149
To clarify Federal law with respect to assisted suicide, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 24, 1996
Mr. HALL of Texas (for himself, Mr. ALLARD, Mr. BAKER of California, Mr.
BALLENGER, Mr. BARCIA, Mr. BARR of Georgia, Mr. BARTLETT of
Maryland, Mr. BARTON of Texas, Mr. BONILLA, Mr. BOEHNER, Mr.
BROWNBACK, Mr. BRYANT of Tennessee, Mr. BUNN of Oregon, Mr.
BUNNING of Kentucky, Mr. BURR, Mr. CAMP, Mr. CANADY of Florida,
Mr. CHABOT, Mrs. CHENOWETH, Mr. CLINGER, Mr. COBLE, Mr.
COBURN, Mr. COLLINS
of Georgia, Mr. COOLEY
of Oregon, Mr.
CREMEANS, Mr. CUNNINGHAM, Mr. DEAL of Georgia, Mr. DICKEY, Mr.
DOOLITTLE, Mr. DORNAN, Mr. DOYLE, Mr. DUNCAN, Ms. DUNN of
Washington, 
Mr. 
ENGLISH
of 
Pennsylvania, 
Mr. 
FRISA, 
Mr.
FUNDERBURK, Mr. GOODLATTE, Mr. GRAHAM, Ms. GREENE of Utah,
Mr. HASTINGS
of Washington, Mr. HAYES, Mr. HAYWORTH, Mr.
HILLEARY, Mr. HOKE, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. HOSTETTLER, Mr. HOEKSTRA,
Mr. HUNTER, Mr. HUTCHINSON, Mr. HYDE, Mr. INGLIS of South Caro-
lina, Mr. ISTOOK, Mr. KING, Mr. KASICH, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr.
KNOLLENBERG, Mr. LAHOOD, Mr. LARGENT, Mr. LATHAM, Mr. LEWIS
of Kentucky, Mr. LINDER, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. LIVINGSTON, Mr.
MCHUGH, Mr. MANTON, Mr. MANZULLO, Mr. MASCARA, Mr. MICA, Mr.
MOORHEAD, Mr. MYERS of Indiana, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. NEY, Mr. NOR-
WOOD, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. ORTON, Mr. PACKARD, Mr. PARKER, Mr. PE-
TERSON of Minnesota, Mr. PETRI, Mr. POSHARD, Mr. QUINN, Mr. RA-
HALL, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. SCARBOROUGH, Mr. SCHIFF, Mrs. SEASTRAND,
Mr. SENSENBRENNER, Mr. SKELTON, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr.
SMITH of Texas, Mrs. SMITH of Washington, Mr. SOLOMON, Mr.
SOUDER, Mr. STEARNS, Mr. STENHOLM, Mr. STOCKMAN, Mr. STUMP,
Mr. STUPAK, Mr. TALENT, Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina, Mr. TAYLOR
of Mississippi, Mr. TIAHRT, Mr. VOLKMER, Mrs. VUCANOVICH, Mr.
WAMP, Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma, Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania, Mr.
WELDON of Florida, Mr. WICKER, Mr. WOLF, Mr. MONTGOMERY, Mr.
CONDIT, Mr. SISISKY, Mr. CRAMER, Mr. CLEMENT, Mr. DELAY, Mr.
BREWSTER, Mr. FROST, and Mr. DE LA GARZA) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition
to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Economic and
Educational Opportunities, Government Reform and Oversight, Re-
sources, and International Relations, for a period to be subsequently de-
termined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To clarify Federal law with respect to assisted suicide, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Assisted Suicide Fund-
ing Restriction Act of 1996’’.
SEC. 2. GENERAL PROHIBITION ON USE OF FEDERAL
ASSISTANCE.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no funds
appropriated by the Congress shall be used to provide,
procure, furnish, fund, or support, or to compel any indi-
vidual, institution, or government entity to provide, pro-
cure, furnish, fund, or support, any item, good, benefit,
program, or service, the purpose of which is to cause, or
to assist in causing, the suicide, euthanasia, or mercy kill-
ing of any individual.
SEC. 3. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act, or in an amendment made by
this Act, shall be construed to create any limitation relat-
ing to—
(1) the withholding or withdrawing of medical
treatment or medical care;
(2) the withholding or withdrawing of nutrition
or hydration;
(3) abortion; or
(4) the use of an item, good, benefit, or service
furnished for the purpose of alleviating pain or dis-
comfort, even if such use may increase the risk of
death, so long as such item, good, benefit, or service
is not also furnished for the purpose of causing, or
the purpose of assisting in causing, death, for any
reason.
SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO ACTS REGARDING INDIVIDUALS
WITH DISABILITIES.
(a) AMENDMENTS
TO DEVELOPMENTAL DISABIL-
ITIES ASSISTANCE AND BILL OF RIGHTS ACT.—
(1) STATE PLANS REGARDING DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES
COUNCILS.—Section 122(c)(5)(A) of
the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of
Rights Act (42 U.S.C. 6022(c)(5)(A)) is amended—
(A) in clause (vi), by striking ‘‘and’’ after
the semicolon at the end;
(B) in clause (vii), by striking the period
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(C) by adding at the end the following
clause:
‘‘(viii) such funds will not be used to
support any program or service that has a
purpose of assisting in procuring any item
or service the purpose of which is to cause,
or to assist in causing, the death of any in-
dividual, such as by assisted suicide, eutha-
nasia, or mercy killing.’’.
(2) LEGAL ACTIONS BY PROTECTION AND AD-
VOCACY SYSTEMS.—Section 142(h)(1) of the Devel-
opmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights
Act (42 U.S.C. 6042(h)(1)) is amended by inserting
before the period the following: ‘‘, except that no
such system may use assistance provided under this
chapter to bring suit or provide any other form of
legal assistance for the purpose of—
‘‘(A) securing or funding any item, benefit,
program, or service furnished for the purpose of
causing, or the purpose of assisting in causing,
the death of any individual, such as by assisted
suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing;
‘‘(B) compelling any individual, institution,
government, or governmental body to provide,
fund, or legalize any item, benefit, program, or
service for the purpose of causing, or the pur-
pose of assisting in causing, the death of any
individual, such as by assisted suicide, eutha-
nasia, or mercy killing; or
‘‘(C) asserting or advocating a legal right
to cause, or to assist in causing, or to receive
assistance in causing, the death of any individ-
ual, such as by assisted suicide, euthanasia, or
mercy killing.’’.
(3) 
PROHIBITED
ACTIVITIES
REGARDING
GRANTS TO UNIVERSITY AFFILIATED PROGRAMS.—
Section 152(b)(5) of the Developmental Disabilities
Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (42 U.S.C.
6062(b)(5)) is amended by inserting before the pe-
riod the following: ‘‘, or for any program or service
which has a purpose of assisting in procuring any
item, or service, the purpose of which is to cause, or
to assist in causing, the death of any individual,
such as by assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy
killing’’.
(4) REQUIREMENTS REGARDING GRANTS FOR
PROJECTS
OF
NATIONAL
SIGNIFICANCE.—Section
162(c) of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance
and Bill of Rights Act (42 U.S.C. 6082(c)) is
amended—
(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘and’’
after the semicolon at the end;
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(C) by adding at the end the following
paragraph:
‘‘(6) the applicant provides assurances that the
grant will not be used to support or fund any pro-
gram or service which has a purpose of assisting in
the procuring of any item, benefit, or service fur-
nished for the purpose of causing, or the purpose of
assisting in causing, the death of any individual,
such as by assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy
killing.’’.
(b) AMENDMENT TO PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY
FOR MENTALLY ILL INDIVIDUALS ACT OF 1986; SYSTEM
REQUIREMENTS.—Section 105(a) of the Protection and
Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals Act of 1986 (42
U.S.C. 10805(a)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the
end thereof;
(2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period and
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by adding at the end thereof the following
new paragraph:
‘‘(10) not use allotments provided to a system
to assist in—
‘‘(A) procuring or funding any item, bene-
fit, or service for the purpose of causing, or the
purpose of assisting in causing, the death of
any individual, such as by assisted suicide, eu-
thanasia, or mercy killing;
‘‘(B) compelling any individual, institution,
government, or governmental body to provide
any item, benefit, or service for the purpose of
causing, or the purpose of assisting in causing,
the death of any individual, such as by assisted
suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing; or
‘‘(C) asserting or advocating a legal right
to cause, or to assist in causing, or to receive
assistance in causing, the death of any individ-
ual, such as by assisted suicide, euthanasia, or
mercy killing.’’.
(c) AMENDMENT TO REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973;
REQUIREMENTS FOR ASSISTANCE FOR PROTECTION AND
ADVOCACY SYSTEMS.—Section 509(f) of the Rehabilita-
tion Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794e(f)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘and’’ after
the semicolon at the end;
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following para-
graph:
‘‘(8) not use allotments provided under this sec-
tion to support or fund any program or service
which has the purpose of assisting in—
‘‘(A) procuring or funding any item, bene-
fit, or service for the purpose of causing, or the
purpose of assisting in causing, the death of
any individual, such as by assisted suicide, eu-
thanasia, or mercy killing;
‘‘(B) compelling any individual, institution,
government, or governmental body to provide
any item, benefit, or service for the purpose of
causing, or the purpose of assisting in causing,
the death of any individual, such as by assisted
suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing; or
‘‘(C) asserting or advocating a legal right
to cause, or to assist in causing, or to receive
assistance in causing, the death of any individ-
ual, such as by assisted suicide, euthanasia, or
mercy killing.’’.
death of any individual, such as by assisted suicide,
euthanasia, or mercy killing.’’.
(b) TREATMENT OF ADVANCE DIRECTIVES.—Section
1902(w) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(w)) is amended
by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
‘‘(5) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to
create any requirement with respect to a portion of an ad-
vance directive that directs the purposeful causing, or the
purposeful assisting in causing, of the death of any indi-
vidual, such as by assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy
killing.
‘‘(6) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to
require any provider or organization, or any employee of
such a provider or organization, to inform or counsel any
individual regarding any right to obtain an item or service
furnished for the purpose of causing, or the purpose of
assisting in causing, the death of the individual, such as
by assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing.’’.
SEC. 7. RESTRICTING TREATMENT UNDER MEDICARE OF
ASSISTED SUICIDE OR RELATED SERVICES.
(a) 
PROHIBITION
OF
EXPENDITURES.—Section
1862(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(a))
is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of paragraph
(14);
SEC. 9. PROHIBITION AGAINST USE OF BLOCK GRANTS TO
STATES FOR SOCIAL SERVICES TO PROVIDE
ITEMS OR SERVICES FOR THE PURPOSE OF
INTENTIONALLY CAUSING DEATH.
Section 2005(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1397d(a)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of paragraph
(8);
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (9) and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(10) for the provision of any item, or service,
furnished for the purpose of causing, or the purpose
of assisting in causing, the death of any individual,
such as by assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy
killing.’’.
SEC. 10. INDIAN HEALTH CARE.
Section 201(b) of the Indian Health Care Improve-
ment Act (25 U.S.C. 1621(b)) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
‘‘(3) Funds appropriated under the authority of this
section may not be used for the provision of any item or
service (including treatment or care) furnished for the
purpose of causing, or the purpose of assisting in causing,
the death of any individual, such as by assisted suicide,
euthanasia, or mercy killing.’’.
SEC. 11. MILITARY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
(a) MEMBERS
AND FORMER MEMBERS.—Section
1074 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing at the end the following:
‘‘(d) Under joint regulations prescribed by the admin-
istering Secretaries, no one under the jurisdiction of the
administering Secretaries may furnish any item or service
(including any form of medical care) for the purpose of
causing, or the purpose of assisting in causing, the death
of any individual, such as by assisted suicide, euthanasia,
or mercy killing.’’.
(b) PROHIBITED
HEALTH
CARE
FOR
DEPEND-
ENTS.—Section 1077(b) of title 10, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(4) Items or services (including any form of
medical care) furnished for the purpose of causing,
or the purpose of assisting in causing, the death of
any individual, such as by assisted suicide, eutha-
nasia, or mercy killing.’’.
(c) 
PROHIBITED
HEALTH
CARE
UNDER
CHAMPUS.—
(1) SPOUSES AND CHILDREN OF MEMBERS.—
Section 1079(a) of title 10, United States Code, is
amended—
(A) in paragraph (16), by striking ‘‘and’’
at the end thereof;
(B) in paragraph (17), by striking the pe-
riod and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(18) No contract for the provision of health-
related services entered into by the Secretary may
include coverage for any item or service (including
any form of medical care) furnished for the purpose
of causing, or the purpose of assisting in causing,
the death of any individual, such as by assisted sui-
cide, euthanasia, or mercy killing.’’.
(2) OTHER COVERED BENEFICIARIES.—Section
1086(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amend-
ed—
(A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(a)’’ the first
place it appears; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(2) No contract for the provision of health-related
services entered into by the Secretary may include cov-
erage for any item or service (including any form of medi-
cal care) furnished for the purpose of causing, or the pur-
pose of assisting in causing, the death of any individual,
such as by assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing.’’.
SEC. 12. FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFIT PLANS.
Section 8902 of title 5, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(o) A contract may not be made or a plan approved
which includes coverage for any benefit, item, or service
that is furnished for the purpose of causing, or the pur-
pose of assisting in causing, the death of any individual,
such as by assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing.’’.
SEC. 13. HEALTH CARE PROVIDED FOR PEACE CORPS
VOLUNTEERS.
Section 5(e) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C.
2504(e)) is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)(A)’’ after ‘‘(e)’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘Subject to such’’ and inserting
the following:
‘‘(2) Subject to such’’; and
(3) by adding at the end of paragraph (1) (as
so designated by paragraph (1)), the following:
‘‘(B) Health care provided under this subsection to
volunteers during their service to the Peace Corps shall
not include any item or service furnished for the purpose
of causing, or the purpose of assisting in causing, the
death of any individual, such as by assisted suicide, eutha-
nasia, or mercy killing.’’.
SEC. 14. MEDICAL SERVICES FOR FEDERAL PRISONERS.
Section 4005(a) of title 18, United States Code, is
amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(a)’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(2) Services provided under this subsection shall not
include any item or service furnished for the purpose of
causing, or the purpose of assisting in causing, the death
of any individual, such as by assisted suicide, euthanasia,
or mercy killing.’’.
SEC. 15. PROHIBITING USE OF ANNUAL FEDERAL PAYMENT
TO DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FOR ASSISTED
SUICIDE OR RELATED SERVICES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title V of the District of Colum-
bia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization
Act is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
‘‘BAN ON USE OF FUNDS FOR ASSISTED SUICIDE AND
RELATED SERVICES
‘‘SEC. 504. None of the funds appropriated to the
District of Columbia pursuant to an authorization of ap-
propriations under this title may be used to furnish any
item, or service, for the purpose of causing, or the purpose
of assisting in causing, the death of any individual, such
as by assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections
of the District of Columbia Self-Government and Govern-
mental Reorganization Act is amended by adding at the
end of the items relating to title V the following new item:
‘‘Sec. 504. Ban on use of funds for assisted suicide and related services.’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to payments to the District of Co-
lumbia for fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 1997.
SEC. 16. LEGAL SERVICES.
Section 1007(b) of the Legal Services Corporation
Act (42 U.S.C. 2996f(b)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph
(9);
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (10) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by adding after paragraph (10) the follow-
ing:
‘‘(11) to provide legal assistance for the pur-
pose of—
‘‘(A) securing or funding any item, benefit,
program, or service furnished for the purpose of
causing, or the purpose of assisting in causing,
the death of any individual, such as by assisted
suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing;
‘‘(B) compelling any individual, institution,
government, or governmental body to provide,
fund, or legalize any item, benefit, program, or
service for the purpose of causing, or the pur-
pose of assisting in causing, the death of any
individual, such as by assisted suicide, eutha-
nasia, or mercy killing; or
‘‘(C) asserting or advocating a legal right
to cause, or to assist in causing, or to receive
assistance in causing, the death of any individ-
ual, such as by assisted suicide, euthanasia, or
mercy killing.’’.
Æ