I am here to announce that House and Senate negotiators have agreed to the outlines of a bi-partisan, bi-cameral compromise bill to save Terri Schiavo.
As you know, the Senate will come into extraordinary session around five o’clock this afternoon to pass an adjournment resolution.
Once that resolution is passed in the Senate, Speaker Hastert is empowered to call the House back into emergency session, which he will do tomorrow afternoon – Palm Sunday – at one o’clock.
This proposed compromise, as I said, is bi-partisan and bi-cameral.
Negotiations have never stopped, and we think we have found a solution.
It is very similar to the bill passed in the Senate Thursday, with some modest modifications.
We have been in frequent contact throughout the day with leaders in both houses and on both sides of the aisle to find a solution to this situation.
I have personally been in contact with several House Democrats who are now working their caucus to explain and build momentum for this compromise measure, and Senator Reid has been helpful doing the same in the Senate.
This is not over, but this compromise has cut across every division in Congress, and all sides agree it is the best way to proceed.
We are confident this compromise addresses everyone’s concerns, we are confident it will provide Mrs. Schiavo a clear and appropriate avenue for appeal in federal court, and most importantly, we are confident this compromise will restore nutrition and hydration to Mrs. Schiavo as long as that appeal endures.