House Republicans attempt to repeal D.C. assisted-suicide law
Mayor: Butt out of Washingtonians’ lives
House Republicans are trying to block a new D.C. law that would legalize physician-assisted suicide in the District, with the House Appropriations Committee passing a measure last week that would repeal the D.C. law.
In a 28-24 vote Thursday evening, the Appropriations Committee agreed to repeal the act as well as bar any funding to the city’s program for implementing it. President Trump’s proposed federal budget included a similar spending ban but did not go as far as repealing the law, which went into effect Feb. 20. The city needs $125,000 to pay for initial startup costs by Oct. 1.
City officials originally were optimistic about funding the measure without federal money, but the amendment introduced by Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., would repeal it altogether. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser was upset by the passage and said if anything the District will continue to advocate for statehood now.
“None of the members opposing our law were elected to represent our residents,” Bowser said. “This is not a federal issue. This is a local issue. Members of Congress who are interfering with our laws must begin to realize what they are really doing: attempting to sidestep the democratic process in order to impose their personal beliefs on 681,000 Washingtonians.”
Several states have approved laws that allow terminally ill patients to request aid-in-dying medications from their physicians. In passing its law last year, D.C. joined California, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, where the practice has been legalized. Thirteen other states are considering similar bills.
The D.C. law is modeled from Oregon’s, and under it, competent, terminally ill patients who are deemed to have less than six months to live can request aid-indying medications from their doctors. Patients must request the prescription twice in the company of two witnesses over 15 days and then must consume the pills without assistance.
Harris, a doctor, introduced his amendment because he believes the D.C. law is poorly thought out.
“Encouraging patients to commit suicide deprives them of the opportunity to potentially be cured by new treatments that could ameliorate their condition and even add years to their lives, if not cure them completely,” Harris said. “Congress has the authority — and the responsibility — to oversee the operations of Washington D.C., and the Death with Dignity Act was a well-intentioned but misguided policy that must be reversed.” Two Republicans on the committee — Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania and Dan Newhouse of Washington — opposed Harris’ language.
D.C. has had a mayor and council since 1973, though Congress still holds some oversight over the city such as the ability to block D.C. laws within 30 legislative working days of being signed by the mayor. While the federal legislature holds influence, it has blocked only three D.C. laws.