U.S. House committee advances measure to grant permanent U.S. residence to Charlie Gard

A U.S. House committee has advanced a measure to grant permanent residence to Charlie Gard, an 11-month-old critically ill baby whose parents are fighting a court battle over his medical care.

According to Life Site News, the committee overwhelmingly voted to approve an amendment introduced by Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Washington) that would give legal and permanent residence to Charlie in the U.S.

However, it still has to pass the House and Senate and be signed by President Donald Trump before it takes effect.

Herrera Beutler, whose daughter was born without kidneys, described the amendment as an "opportunity for us to stand with a family who are right now fighting for their son's life."

"I strongly believe, having faced ... similar circumstances, that parents have the most at stake when it comes to standing up for their children," she said.

"The people that most, I believe, know or are going to err on the right side of the best interest of their child is the parent[s]," she continued.

Herrera Beutler was reportedly told that her daughter's condition was 100 percent fatal, but she and her husband managed to convince a doctor to inject a saline solution to her uterus to help the baby develop properly.

Her daughter, Abigail, lived on dialysis for three years, and she became the first baby born with her condition to survive after her father donated a kidney.

The lawmaker noted that doctors in the U.S. and Rome have offered to treat Charlie. They named Dr. Michio Hirano, who stated that the his treatment could have an "11 to 56 percent chance... bringing meaningful improvement to Charlie's condition."

Hirano had examined Charlie for five hours on Tuesday, but Great Ormond Street Hospital, where the baby is being treated, is still reportedly unconvinced by the doctor's analysis.

Herrera Beutler said that she thinks the amendment would send an important message "that should the UK decide to release this child, that we welcome him with open arms."

However, it remains unclear whether the measure would help in the case as legal sources have claimed that Charlie is the subject of a U.K. High Court order, and it made no difference what passport he held.

Last week, the judge presiding in the case made it clear that it would be illegal for the baby to travel to America without his permission.

"It would be entirely wrong for him to be transferred without my being involved," said Justice Francis, adding that if the hospital changes its mind to allow the baby to travel, he would be "bound to agree."