Barrett, Crawford Introduce Bill To Protect Life, Overturn D.C. Assisted Suicide Efforts

Washington, D.C. -This week, Congressmen Tom Barrett (MI-07) and Rick Crawford (AR-01) introduced H.R. 7196to protect life at all stages by ending assisted suicide in Washington, D.C. Specifically, the bill would repeal a District of Columbia law known as the Death with Dignity Act, which legalized physician-assisted suicide.

"I believe in protecting human dignity, which respects and protects life at all stages. Assisted suicide disregards the intrinsic value of every person and undermines the integrity of the medical profession," said Barrett."Assisted suicide ends in a tragedy, and we have already seen trends in places as close as Canada that now permit assisted suicide for mental illness and depression. This bill will ensure that our nation's capital instead protects vulnerable human life."

In 2016, the Council of the District of Columbia passed the "Death with Dignity Act" allowing physician-assisted suicide. Despite being a part of the law, the District of Columbia Health Department has failed to produce the legally-required public, annual report of statistics about the patients who have used physician-assisted suicide since 2022.

"Human dignity must always be protected, and to allow for assisted suicides to take place in our nation's capital would be a failure on Congress' behalf," said Congressman Crawford."Today on the March for Life I think about the God-given worth of each person from conception to natural death. With more and more of our western neighbors allowing for the legal euthanasia of the intellectually disabled and mentally ill, Congress must take decisive action to protect those most vulnerable among us. I am proud to co-lead this legislation with my colleague Rep. Barrett to end the practice of assisted suicide in our nation's capital and stand up for the dignity of all persons in our nation."

H.R. 7196 would exercise Congress' constitutional authority to set policy for the capital of the United States and specifically prohibit the D.C. government from enacting any future laws allowing assisted suicide.

Click hereto read the bill.

###