
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC14401]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
            CHAPTER 138--ASSISTED SUICIDE FUNDING RESTRICTION
 
Sec. 14401. Findings and purpose


(a) Findings

    Congress finds the following:
        (1) The Federal Government provides financial support for the 
    provision of and payment for health care services, as well as for 
    advocacy activities to protect the rights of individuals.
        (2) Assisted suicide, euthanasia, and mercy killing have been 
    criminal offenses throughout the United States and, under current 
    law, it would be unlawful to provide services in support of such 
    illegal activities.
        (3) Because of recent legal developments, it may become lawful 
    in areas of the United States to furnish services in support of such 
    activities.
        (4) Congress is not providing Federal financial assistance in 
    support of assisted suicide, euthanasia, and mercy killing and 
    intends that Federal funds not be used to promote such activities.

(b) Purpose

    It is the principal purpose of this chapter to continue current 
Federal policy by providing explicitly that Federal funds may not be 
used to pay for items and services (including assistance) the purpose of 
which is to cause (or assist in causing) the suicide, euthanasia, or 
mercy killing of any individual.

(Pub. L. 105-12, Sec. 2, Apr. 30, 1997, 111 Stat. 23.)

                       References in Text

    This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original ``this 
Act'', meaning Pub. L. 105-12, Apr. 30, 1997, 111 Stat. 23, known as the 
Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997. For complete 
classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out 
below and Tables.


                             Effective Date

    Section 11 of Pub. L. 105-12 provided that:
    ``(a) In General.--The provisions of this Act [see Short Title note 
below] (and the amendments made by this Act) take effect upon its 
enactment [Apr. 30, 1997] and apply, subject to subsection (b), to 
Federal payments made pursuant to obligations incurred after the date of 
the enactment of this Act for items and services provided on or after 
such date.
    ``(b) Application to Contracts.--Such provisions shall apply with 
respect to contracts entered into, renewed, or extended after the date 
of the enactment of this Act [Apr. 30, 1997] and shall also apply to a 
contract entered into before such date to the extent permitted under 
such contract.''


                               Short Title

    Section 1(a) of Pub. L. 105-12 provided that: ``This Act [enacting 
this chapter, section 238o of this title, section 1621x of Title 25, 
Indians, and section 1707 of Title 38, Veterans' Benefits, amending 
sections 295, 701, 1395y, 1395cc, 1396a, 1396b, 1397d, 2996f, 6022, 
6042, 6062, 6082, and 10805 of this title, section 8902 of Title 5, 
Government Organization and Employees, section 1073 of Title 10, Armed 
Forces, section 4005 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, section 
2504 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, and section 794e of 
Title 29, Labor, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this 
section and section 295 of this title] may be cited as the `Assisted 
Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997'.''


                  Construction of Conforming Amendments

    Section 9(p) of Pub. L. 105-12 provided that: ``The fact that a law 
is not amended under this section [enacting section 238o of this title, 
section 1621x of Title 25, Indians, and section 1707 of Title 38, 
Veterans' Benefits, amending sections 701, 1395y, 1395cc, 1396a, 1396b, 
1397d, 2996f, 6022, 6042, 6062, 6082, and 10805 of this title, section 
8902 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, section 1073 of 
Title 10, Armed Forces, section 4005 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal 
Procedure, section 2504 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, 
and section 794e of Title 29, Labor] shall not be construed as 
indicating that the provisions of this Act [see Short Title note above] 
do not apply to such a law.''
