Washington D.C., Jul 19, 2017 / 15:41 pm
Amid the Gard family's legal battle in the U.K. to pursue experimental treatment for their infant son, a committee in the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation that could grant them permanent residency in the states.
"We just passed amendment that grants permanent resident status to #CharlieGard and family so Charlie can get the medical treatment he needs," Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) said in a July 18 tweet.
The amendment could help the Gard family pursue additional treatment for Charlie, who suffers from a rare mitochondrial disease which paralyzes muscles and causes brain damage.
Charlie Gard has made headlines over the past few months as U.K. courts denied his parents the right to transfer him to other hospitals for treatment. The Gard family appealed to the EU court and was denied a hearing.