[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 136 (Friday, September 27, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page E1757]]



        DRUG-INDUCED RAPE PREVENTION AND PUNISHMENT ACT OF 1996

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. PATRICIA SCHROEDER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 25, 1996

  Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, because I believe that it is critically 
important that we increase the penalties for possession and trafficking 
in Rohypnol, I support this legislation even though it does not go far 
enough.
  Rohypnol has been proven dangerous. The drug is odorless, colorless 
and tasteless and cause sedation and euphoric effects within 15 
minutes. The effects are boosted further by alcohol or marijuana. And, 
most offensively, Rohypnol has become the tool of predators who spike 
the drinks of unsuspecting young women and then rape them.
  Recognizing the dangers posed by Rohypnol, the DEA has begun the 
administrative process of moving Rohypnol from Schedule IV to Schedule 
I to put the drug in the same category--and have it carry the same 
penalties--as other dangerous drugs including LSD and heroin.
  In an effort to speed up the process of changing Rohypnol's schedule, 
last week, the Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to reschedule the 
drug. Despite that vote, this week, we see a brand new bill on the 
floor without the rescheduling provision?
  Why, you might ask, would anyone oppose rescheduling a dangerous drug 
with no legitimate purpose in the United States and which has been used 
to facilitate the rape of numerous young women, including many minors? 
Why would anyone argue for lenient treatment of a drug that has been 
banned by the FDA and declared dangerous by the DEA?
  Because Hoffman-LaRoche, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures 
Rohypnol and which sells the drug in 64 foreign countries, has worked 
very hard to see the rescheduling provision dropped. Hoffman-LaRoche 
stands to lose $100 million if Rohypnol is rescheduled because sales in 
other countries tend to go down when the United States decides a drug 
is so dangerous that it belongs on Schedule I.
  So in today's legislation, Rohypnol remains a Schedule IV drug not 
because anyone actually believes it is as safe as other Schedule IV 
drugs like Valium, but because a drug company has successfully 
lobbied--to the detriment to women and girls across the country--to 
keep Rohypnol's Schedule IV status.
  I sincerely hope that after this bill has passed, we can go back to 
the Committee process and pass a bill rescheduling Rohypnol so it is 
treated as seriously as other dangerous drugs.

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