Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997
Public Law 105-12 · H.R. 1003 · 105th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Apr 30, 1997 · Health
Sponsor: Rep. Ralph Hall (D-TX-4)
Cosponsors (118): Rep. Richard Baker, Rep. James Barcia,
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 398 yea, 16 nay398–16
- SenateRecorded vote: 99 yea, 0 nay99–0
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997 - Prohibits the use of appropriated funds to provide or pay for any health care item or service or health benefit coverage for the purpose of causing, or assisting to cause, the death of any individual. Sets forth a nonexclusive list of programs, facilities, and personnel to which the prohibition applies, including under Social Security Act titles V (Maternal and Child Health Services), XVIII (Medicare), XIX (Medicaid), and XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services), the Public Health Service Act, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, and provisions of Federal law relating to Federal employees, the military health care system, veterans medical care, Peace Corps volunteers, and Federal prisoners.
Prohibits the use of appropriated funds for: (1) causing or assisting in suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing; (2) compelling any person or entity to provide or fund any item, benefit, program, or service for such purpose; or (3) asserting or advocating a legal right to cause or assist such actions. Sets forth a nonexclusive list of programs to which the prohibition applies, including under specified provisions of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, the Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals Act of 1986, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Legal Services Corporation Act.
Prohibits the use of appropriated funds for any item or service for the purpose of causing or assisting in the suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing of any individual.
Declares that, for this Act, references to appropriated funds include funds appropriated to the District of Columbia under specified provisions of the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act.
Declares that this Act supersedes other Federal laws except to the extent such laws specifically supersede this Act.
Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants and contracts (emphasizing palliative medicine) for: (1) research and projects to reduce the rate of suicide among persons with disabilities or terminal or chronic illness; and (2) demonstration projects to reduce restrictions on access to hospice programs or fund home health care services, community living arrangements, and attendant care services.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 105th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 398 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
398 yea16 nay18 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(182)
Rep. John LewisD-GA-5
Rep. Donald PayneD-NJ-10
Rep. Peter DeFazioD-OR-4
Rep. Alcee HastingsD-FL-23- Rep. David BoniorD-MI-10
Rep. John OlverD-MA-1- Rep. Major OwensD-NY-11
Rep. Maurice HincheyD-NY-26
Rep. Nydia VelázquezD-NY-12- Rep. Elizabeth FurseD-OR-1
- Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
- Rep. Patsy MinkD-HI-2
Rep. Nancy PelosiD-CA-8- Rep. Earl HilliardD-AL-7
- Rep. Esteban TorresD-CA-34
- Rep. George BrownD-CA-42
Rep. Bill DelahuntD-MA-10- Rep. Thomas FogliettaD-PA-1
Rep. Ed TownsD-NY-10
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
Rep. Lynn WoolseyD-CA-6
Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12- Rep. Bruce VentoD-MN-4
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
Rep. Danny DavisD-IL-7
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-15- Rep. William CoyneD-PA-14
Rep. Bobby RushD-IL-1
Rep. Lucille Roybal-AllardD-CA-33
Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6
Rep. Louise SlaughterD-NY-28
Rep. Michael McNultyD-NY-21
Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
Rep. José SerranoD-NY-16
Rep. John TierneyD-MA-6- Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
Rep. Sherrod BrownD-OH-13
Rep. Luis GutiérrezD-IL-4
Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3- Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonaldD-CA-37
- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-11
Rep. Chaka FattahD-PA-2
Rep. Bernie SandersD-VT- Rep. Victor FazioD-CA-3
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
Rep. Jim McGovernD-MA-3- Rep. Carrie MeekD-FL-17
Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-6
Rep. William JeffersonD-LA-2- Rep. Sam GejdensonD-CT-2
Rep. Sam FarrD-CA-17- Rep. Marty MeehanD-MA-5
- Rep. Eva ClaytonD-NC-1
Rep. Patrick KennedyD-RI-1
Rep. Bart StupakD-MI-1
Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18
Rep. Lloyd DoggettD-TX-10- Rep. Thomas BarrettD-WI-5
Rep. Dennis KucinichD-OH-10- Rep. Harold FordD-TN-9
Rep. Anna EshooD-CA-14- Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-29
Rep. Corrine BrownD-FL-3
Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-5- Rep. Robert BorskiD-PA-3
Rep. Elijah CummingsD-MD-7
Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-17- Rep. Lane EvansD-IL-17
- Rep. Matthew MartínezD-CA-31
- Rep. Joseph KennedyD-MA-8
Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18
Rep. Neil AbercrombieD-HI-1
Rep. Richard NealD-MA-2
Rep. Carolyn MaloneyD-NY-14
Rep. Tom AllenD-ME-1- Rep. David SkaggsD-CO-2
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16
Rep. Zoe LofgrenD-CA-16- Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-12
Rep. Earl BlumenauerD-OR-3
Rep. Bob MenendezD-NJ-13- Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
- Rep. Julian DixonD-CA-32
- Rep. Thomas SawyerD-OH-14
Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1- Rep. Barbara KennellyD-CT-1
- Rep. Peter DeutschD-FL-20
- Rep. Albert WynnD-MD-4
Rep. Robert WexlerD-FL-19
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12
Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-2
Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-26- Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-5
Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1
Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9- Rep. Karen ThurmanD-FL-5
- Rep. Lynn RiversD-MI-13
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5- Rep. John BaldacciD-ME-2
Rep. Chuck SchumerD-NY-9
Rep. Rubén HinojosaD-TX-15- Rep. Karen McCarthyD-MO-5
Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11
Rep. Loretta SanchezD-CA-46- Rep. Robert WeygandD-RI-2
- Rep. Ted StricklandD-OH-6
- Rep. Jay JohnsonD-WI-8
Rep. Silvestre ReyesD-TX-16
Rep. Darlene HooleyD-OR-5- Rep. Rod BlagojevichD-IL-5
- Rep. Floyd FlakeD-NY-6
- Rep. Glenn PoshardD-IL-19
- Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
Rep. Debbie StabenowD-MI-8
Rep. Bill PascrellD-NJ-8
Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29- Rep. Robert WiseD-WV-2
- Rep. Thomas MantonD-NY-7
Rep. Nick LampsonD-TX-9
Rep. Ron KindD-WI-3
Rep. Benjamin CardinD-MD-3- Rep. Jim DavisD-FL-11
Rep. Steven RothmanD-NJ-9
Rep. Marion BerryD-AR-1
Rep. Jerry CostelloD-IL-12- Rep. William LutherD-MN-6
Rep. Jane HarmanD-CA-36
Rep. David PriceD-NC-4
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3- Rep. Ken BentsenD-TX-25
Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-11- Rep. Ron KlinkD-PA-4
Rep. Adam SmithD-WA-9
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-9
Rep. Bob EtheridgeD-NC-2
Rep. Ellen TauscherD-CA-10
Rep. Vic SnyderD-AR-2- Rep. Jerry KleczkaD-WI-4
Rep. Jim MoranD-VA-8
Rep. Carolyn McCarthyD-NY-4- Rep. James MaloneyD-CT-5
Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2- Rep. David MingeD-MN-2
Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9
Rep. Brad ShermanD-CA-24- Rep. Frank MascaraD-PA-20
- Rep. Paul McHaleD-PA-15
- Rep. Cal DooleyD-CA-20
- Rep. Max SandlinD-TX-1
- Rep. Robert ClementD-TN-5
Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27
Rep. Michael DoyleD-PA-18- Rep. Tony HallD-OH-3
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
Rep. Tim HoldenD-PA-6- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6- Rep. James BarciaD-MI-5
Rep. Leonard BoswellD-IA-3
Rep. John TannerD-TN-8- Rep. Owen PickettD-VA-2
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
Rep. Allen BoydD-FL-2- Rep. Timothy RoemerD-IN-3
- Rep. Jim TurnerD-TX-2
- Rep. Scotty BaeslerD-KY-6
- Rep. Norman SisiskyD-VA-4
- Rep. William LipinskiD-IL-3
- Rep. Gary ConditD-CA-18
- Rep. Pat DannerD-MO-6
- Rep. Chris JohnD-LA-7
Rep. Mike McIntyreD-NC-7
Rep. Bud CramerD-AL-5- Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
Rep. Gene TaylorD-MS-5- Rep. James TraficantD-OH-17
Rep. Virgil GoodeD-VA-5
Rep. Ralph HallD-TX-4
Republicans who voted yea(216)
- Rep. Constance MorellaR-MD-8
- Rep. Michael ForbesR-NY-1
- Rep. Nancy JohnsonR-CT-6
- Rep. Sherry BoehlertR-NY-23
- Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-20
- Rep. Amo HoughtonR-NY-31
Rep. Christopher ShaysR-CT-4
Rep. Michael CastleR-DE- Rep. Jack QuinnR-NY-30
- Rep. Marge RoukemaR-NJ-5
- Rep. Stephen HornR-CA-38
Rep. John McHughR-NY-24
Rep. Jim WalshR-NY-25
Rep. Pete KingR-NY-3- Rep. Sue KellyR-NY-19
- Rep. Rick LazioR-NY-2
Rep. Lincoln Diaz-BalartR-FL-21
Rep. Steven LaTouretteR-OH-19
Rep. Wayne GilchrestR-MD-1- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4- Rep. Jon FoxR-PA-13
Rep. Jim SaxtonR-NJ-3
Rep. Tom DavisR-VA-11- Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
- Rep. Curt WeldonR-PA-7
- Rep. Jim GreenwoodR-PA-8
Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18- Rep. Bob FranksR-NJ-7
Rep. Frank LoBiondoR-NJ-2
Rep. Ray LaHoodR-IL-18
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. Susan MolinariR-NY-13
- Rep. Bob NeyR-OH-18
Rep. Rodney FrelinghuysenR-NJ-11
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-40
Rep. Phil EnglishR-PA-21- Rep. Herbert BatemanR-VA-1
- Rep. Joseph SkeenR-NM-2
Rep. Jim RamstadR-MN-3- Rep. Greg GanskeR-IA-4
- Rep. Bill BarrettR-NE-3
- Rep. Jay KimR-CA-41
- Rep. Michael OxleyR-OH-4
- Rep. Linda SmithR-WA-3
Rep. Brian BilbrayR-CA-49
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-10
Rep. Jerry WellerR-IL-11- Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-22
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5- Rep. Harris FawellR-IL-13
Rep. Elton GalleglyR-CA-23- Rep. Thomas EwingR-IL-15
- Rep. Anne NorthupR-KY-3
Rep. Don YoungR-AK- Rep. Tom CampbellR-CA-15
Rep. John ShimkusR-IL-20
Rep. Vernon EhlersR-MI-3- Rep. Billy TauzinR-LA-3
- Rep. Robert LivingstonR-LA-1
- Rep. Jack MetcalfR-WA-2
- Rep. Jim KolbeR-AZ-5
Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-6- Rep. Mike ParkerR-MS-4
- Rep. Paul GillmorR-OH-5
Rep. Joe KnollenbergR-MI-11
Rep. Tom LathamR-IA-5- Rep. Bill ThomasR-CA-21
- Rep. George GekasR-PA-17
- Rep. Robert SmithR-OR-2
Rep. Jim BunningR-KY-4- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
Rep. Ed WhitfieldR-KY-1
Rep. Kay GrangerR-TX-12
Rep. Ken CalvertR-CA-43- Rep. Ron PackardR-CA-48
- Rep. Merrill CookR-UT-2
Rep. Jo Ann EmersonI-MO-8- Rep. Bill JenkinsR-TN-1
Rep. Jim McCreryR-LA-4
Rep. Charlie BassR-NH-2- Rep. Asa HutchinsonR-AR-3
Rep. Deborah PryceR-OH-15- Rep. Rick WhiteR-WA-1
- Rep. H. CallahanR-AL-1
Rep. Lamar SmithR-TX-21- Rep. Michael PappasR-NJ-12
Rep. Spencer BachusR-AL-6- Rep. Henry BonillaR-TX-23
- Rep. Wes WatkinsR-OK-3
- Rep. Mark FoleyR-FL-16
- Rep. Michael BilirakisR-FL-9
- Rep. Richard BakerR-LA-6
Rep. Dave HobsonR-OH-7- Rep. Scott KlugR-WI-2
Rep. John ThuneR-SD
Rep. Steve BuyerR-IN-5- Rep. Frank RiggsR-CA-1
Rep. John PetersonR-PA-5
Rep. Roger WickerR-MS-1- Rep. Tom BlileyR-VA-7
- Rep. Charles CanadyR-FL-12
- Rep. Jim NussleR-IA-2
Rep. Saxby ChamblissR-GA-8- Rep. Edward PeaseR-IN-7
Rep. Rob PortmanR-OH-2- Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
Rep. Dave CampR-MI-4- Rep. Tillie FowlerR-FL-4
Rep. Chip PickeringR-MS-3- Rep. John CookseyR-LA-5
Rep. John MicaR-FL-7- Rep. Rick HillR-MT
- Rep. Scott McInnisR-CO-3
- Rep. George NethercuttR-WA-5
Rep. Kenny HulshofR-MO-9- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
Rep. Robert AderholtR-AL-4- Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
- Rep. Duke CunninghamR-CA-51
- Rep. Robert EhrlichR-MD-2
Rep. Bob GoodlatteR-VA-6
Rep. Frank LucasR-OK-6
Rep. Mike CrapoR-ID-2
Rep. Terry EverettR-AL-2
Rep. Ron LewisR-KY-2- Rep. Jennifer DunnR-WA-8
Rep. John BoehnerR-OH-8- Rep. Denny HastertR-IL-14
Rep. David DreierR-CA-28- Rep. James HansenR-UT-1
Rep. Lindsey GrahamR-SC-3
Rep. Jerry MoranR-KS-1- Rep. Bill McCollumR-FL-8
- Rep. Gil GutknechtR-MN-1
Rep. Buck McKeonR-CA-25
Rep. Richard BurrR-NC-5
Rep. Joseph PittsR-PA-16- Rep. Bob RileyR-AL-3
Rep. John LinderR-GA-11
Rep. Roy BluntR-MO-7- Rep. Charles TaylorR-NC-11
- Rep. Porter GossR-FL-14
- Rep. John KasichR-OH-12
- Rep. Larry CombestR-TX-19
- Rep. Nick SmithR-MI-7
- Rep. Ed BryantR-TN-7
Rep. Doc HastingsR-WA-4
Rep. Kevin BradyR-TX-8- Rep. Dan MillerR-FL-13
- Rep. Dan SchaeferR-CO-6
Rep. Dave WeldonR-FL-15- Rep. Jim TalentR-MO-2
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6
Rep. Dan BurtonR-IN-6
Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-52
Rep. John SununuR-NH-1- Rep. Jon ChristensenR-NE-2
- Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
- Rep. James RoganR-CA-27
Rep. Mark SouderR-IN-4- Rep. William PaxonR-NY-27
Rep. Zach WampR-TN-3- Rep. Jim GibbonsR-NV-2
- Rep. Charlie NorwoodR-GA-10
- Rep. Gerald SolomonR-NY-22
- Rep. J.D. HayworthR-AZ-6
- Rep. Richard ArmeyR-TX-26
Rep. Mac ThornberryR-TX-13- Rep. Vincent SnowbargerR-KS-3
Rep. Jack KingstonR-GA-1
Rep. Bob InglisR-SC-4
Rep. Mac CollinsR-GA-3- Rep. Jim RyunR-KS-2
Rep. Barbara CubinR-WY
Rep. Sue MyrickR-NC-9
Rep. Nathan DealR-GA-9
Rep. Jimmy DuncanR-TN-2- Rep. Tom DeLayR-TX-22
- Rep. Ernest IstookR-OK-5
Rep. Joe BartonR-TX-6
Rep. Donald ManzulloR-IL-16
Rep. Pete HoekstraR-MI-2
Rep. Steve ChabotR-OH-1
Rep. Chris CannonR-UT-3- Rep. Christopher CoxR-CA-47
Rep. Wally HergerR-CA-2
Rep. Roscoe BartlettR-MD-6
Rep. Sam JohnsonR-TX-3
Rep. Todd TiahrtR-KS-4
Rep. Pete SessionsR-TX-5
Rep. Walter JonesR-NC-3- Rep. Steve LargentR-OK-1
Rep. Howard CobleR-NC-6- Rep. Richard PomboR-CA-11
Rep. Cliff StearnsR-FL-6- Rep. Mark NeumannR-WI-1
- Rep. Joel HefleyR-CO-5
- Rep. David McIntoshR-IN-2
- Rep. Van HillearyR-TN-4
- Rep. John HostettlerR-IN-8
- Rep. Helen Chenoweth-HageR-ID-1
- Rep. Robert StumpR-AZ-3
Rep. John EnsignR-NV-1- Rep. Bob BarrR-GA-7
- Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-8
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-9
Rep. Matt SalmonR-AZ-1
Rep. John ShadeggR-AZ-4
Rep. Dana RohrabacherR-CA-45
Rep. Thomas CoburnR-OK-2
Rep. Mark SanfordR-SC-1
Rep. Ed RoyceR-CA-39
Rep. Ron PaulR-TX-14
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 73 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
- Oversight and Accountability Committee · House · discharged from, referred toSubcommittee: Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
- Energy and Commerce Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Health and Environment Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 31 actions.
- Apr 30, 1997Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 105-12.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Apr 18, 1997PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Apr 16, 1997FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 99-0. Record Vote No: 44.Senate roll call 44
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Apr 10, 1997FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 398 - 16 (Roll no. 75).House roll call 75
- FloorFloor · Mr. Bliley moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Apr 8, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Education and Workforce Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Foreign Affairs Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Natural Resources Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Judiciary Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Ways and Means Committee
- Mar 20, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Mar 19, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
- Mar 18, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Health Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Health Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee
- Mar 17, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Health Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee
- Mar 13, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Health and Environment Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Health and Environment Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Mar 11, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Education and Workforce Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Foreign Affairs Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Health and Environment Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Ways and Means Committee
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.