IV
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. RES. 459
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to pro-
moting the use of proven academic and classroom-management solutions
for problems of behavior, attention, and learning in school children.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 4, 2000
Mr. SCHAFFER (for himself, Mrs. ROUKEMA, Mr. DEMINT, Mr. SAM JOHN-
SON of Texas, Mr. PAUL, Mrs. CHENOWETH-HAGE, Mr. LARGENT, Mr.
CHABOT, Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland, Mr. NORWOOD, Mr. COBURN, Mr.
LINDER, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mr. TERRY, Mr. GREEN of
Texas, Mr. KUCINICH, and Mr. MCCOLLUM) submitted the following res-
olution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the
Workforce
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with
respect to promoting the use of proven academic and
classroom-management solutions for problems of behav-
ior, attention, and learning in school children.
Whereas the Constitution of the United States reserves to the
States the responsibility for the general supervision of
public education in kindergarten through the twelfth
grade;
Whereas State and local education agencies are dedicated to
increasing academic achievement levels for all students
and ensuring that no student is left behind;
•HRES 459 IH
Whereas it is the responsibility of school personnel to ensure
that all students achieve academically;
Whereas only licensed medical personnel have the authority
to prescribe psychotropic drugs;
Whereas State and local education agencies, schools, parents,
and children have expressed serious concerns regarding
the appropriate and thorough diagnosis and medication
of students and the impact on student achievement;
Whereas the Journal of the American Medical Association
has documented that, among children aged two to four,
the use of some psychotropic drugs has tripled between
1991 and 1995, and such findings are extremely trouble-
some given the very limited amount of research and clin-
ical data that evaluates the safety and effectiveness of
psychotropic drugs on the physical, cognitive, and emo-
tional development of young children;
Whereas the number of American school children receiving
prescription 
psychotropic 
drugs 
now 
approaches
6,000,000; and
Whereas there are documented incidents of highly negative
consequences resulting from psychotropic drugs that have
been prescribed for school children for what are essen-
tially problems of discipline, and such prescriptions may
be related to the lack of academic success by the children
involved: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that the Congress should—
(1) exercise its oversight responsibilities and
conduct hearings
concerning the provision for
•HRES 459 IH
school children of prescriptions for psychotropic
drugs;
(2) recommend that the National Academy of
Sciences study the effects of prescription psycho-
tropic drugs on the academic achievement and be-
havior of school children;
(3) acknowledge the efforts of State and local
education agencies, and support their conclusions
and resolutions, regarding the prevalence among
school children of prescription psychotropic drugs
and the growing crisis of classroom management;
(4) encourage school personnel to use proven
academic and classroom-management solutions for
problems of behavior, attention, and learning dif-
ficulties in school children; and
(5) urge greater communication between and
education of parents, educators, and medical profes-
sionals regarding the effects of prescription psycho-
tropic drugs on the academic achievement and be-
havior of school children and the ability to provide
a successful, safe, and civil learning environment.
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