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Bill Introduced to Protect Parents From Being Forced to
Medicate Students Before School Burns Leads Effort to Pass Child Medication Safety Act, Protect Rights
of Parents and Children WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. House Education & the Workforce Committee member Max Burns (R-GA) today announced the introduction of the Child Medication Safety Act of 2003 (H.R. 1170), a bill that would protect parents from being forced by school officials to medicate their children with psychotropic drugs before sending them to school. “The decision to medicate a child belongs in the hands of parents and their child’s pediatrician or psychiatrist, not public school system administrators. No parent should be forced to medicate a child in order for that child to attend school,” Burns commented. The legislation requires that, as a condition of receiving federal education funds, states establish policies and procedures that prohibit school personnel from requiring a child to take psychotropic medications, such as Ritalin or Adderall, as a condition of attending school. These drugs, classified as controlled substances under Schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act, can be addictive and easily abused. A number of states have passed laws preventing school personnel from requiring that parents medicate their child in order to attend school. Connecticut, Minnesota, Illinois, and Virginia have passed such laws, and Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina, Utah, and Texas have established Commissions or enacted resolutions to investigate this issue or encourage schools to use proven methods of addressing behavior problems instead of relying on medication. The bill was introduced in the House on Tuesday evening by a group of cosponsors including Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL), Reps. John Boehner (R-OH), Mike Castle (R-DE), Cass Ballenger (R-NC), Sam Johnson (R-TX), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Patrick Tiberi (R-OH), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Tom Cole (R-OK), John Kline (R-MN), Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO), Dan Burton (R-IN), and Tom Tancredo (R-CO). "The decision to medicate a child with these drugs should be made by parents, as prescribed by a licensed medical doctor, not because of pressure from school officials," said Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), chairman of the House Education & the Workforce Committee. "I applaud Congressman Burns’ commitment to protecting the rights of parents and children. “Parents should never be faced with the requirement of medicating their child, against their will and better judgment, in order to ensure their child will receive educational services," Boehner added. "Parents should never have to choose between their child’s health and safety, and their ability to receive an education." # # # # # |
Rep. Burns of Georgia introduced a resolution (HR 1170) in
federal
Congress.
This resolution asks that any state that wants federal education
money develop and implement rules and procedures prohibiting school
personnel from forcing parents into giving their kids schedule II
drugs (such as Ritalin and Adderall). The other good news is that
along many congressmen, the Speaker of the House has also signed on
as a co-sponsor.
This is a very important resolution as if passed can help turn the
tide in terms of the mandates associated with federal funds. Right
now there is a definite incentive to drug kids. This has the
potential of literally saving millions of American children from
falling into psych hands and being addicted to mind altering drugs.
It is vital that all of us contact our congressman and ask him to
vote yes on this resolution. We have a chance to help children and
need to act.
Here is the contact information for congressmen. Please take a minute
to either write an email or make a phone call.
Congressman Rob Bishop (801) 625-0107 norma.copps@mail.house.gov
Congressman Jim Mattheson (801) 486-1236 matheson@mail.house.gov
Congressman Chris Cannon (801) 379-2509 cannon.ut03@mail.house.gov
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1170
To protect children and their parents from being coerced into administering psychotropic medication in order to attend school, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
Mr. BURNS (for himself, Mr. HASTERT, Mr. BOEHNER, Mr. CASTLE, Mr. BALLENGER, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. ISAKSON, Mr. TIBERI, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. COLE, Mr. KLINE, Mrs. MUSGRAVE, Ms. WATSON, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, and Mr. TANCREDO) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce
A BILL
To protect children and their parents from being coerced into administering psychotropic medication in order to attend school, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the `Child Medication Safety Act of 2003'.
As a condition of receiving funds under any program or activity administered by the Secretary of Education, each State shall develop and implement policies and procedures prohibiting school personnel from requiring a child to obtain a prescription for a controlled substance in schedule II under section 202(c) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812(c)) as a condition of attending school or receiving services.
In this Act:
(1) CHILD- The term `child' means any person within the age limits for which the State provides free public education.
(2) STATE- The term `State' means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.