[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1310 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1310
Expressing support for the designation of the month of June 2024 as
``National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month'' and June 27, 2024,
as ``National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 18, 2024
Mr. Peters (for himself, Mr. Mast, Mr. Trone, Mr. Moulton, and Mr.
Thompson of California) submitted the following resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the designation of the month of June 2024 as
``National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month'' and June 27, 2024,
as ``National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day''.
Whereas the brave men and women of the Armed Forces, who proudly serve the
United States, risk their lives to protect the freedom, health, and
welfare of the people of the United States, and deserve the investment
of every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and
emotional well-being;
Whereas nearly 2,800,000 members of the Armed Forces have deployed overseas
since the events of September 11, 2001, and have served in places such
as Afghanistan and Iraq;
Whereas the current generation of men and women in the Armed Forces has
sustained a high rate of operational deployments, with many members of
the Armed Forces serving overseas multiple times, placing those members
at high risk of enduring traumatic combat stress;
Whereas, when left untreated, exposure to traumatic combat stress can lead to
severe and chronic post-traumatic stress responses, commonly referred to
as post-traumatic stress disorder (referred to in this preamble as
``PTSD'') or post-traumatic stress injury;
Whereas many men and women of the Armed Forces and veterans who served before
September 11, 2001, live with mental health needs from post-traumatic
stress and remain at risk;
Whereas the Secretary of Veterans Affairs reports that approximately--
(1) 11 to 20 percent of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom
or Operation Enduring Freedom have PTSD in a given year;
(2) 12 percent of veterans who served in the Persian Gulf war have PTSD
in a given year; and
(3) 30 percent of veterans who served in the Vietnam era have had PTSD
in their lifetimes;
Whereas the diagnosis known as PTSD was initially formulated in 1980 by the
American Psychiatric Association to describe and categorize the symptoms
and behavioral complications of severe traumatic stress;
Whereas the symptoms and behavioral complications of severe traumatic stress
have historically been unjustly portrayed in the media, stigmatizing
individuals living with post traumatic stress;
Whereas electro-magnetic imaging has shown that severe traumatic stress causes
physical changes in the brain;
Whereas many post-traumatic stress responses remain unreported, undiagnosed, and
untreated due to--
(1) a lack of awareness about post-traumatic stress and the persistent
stigma associated with mental health conditions; and
(2) a lack of access to mental health treatment;
Whereas, without timely redress, traumatic stress responses can worsen over time
and lead to severe consequences, including self-destruction;
Whereas exposure to trauma during service in the Armed Forces can lead to post-
traumatic stress;
Whereas post-traumatic stress significantly increases the risk of anxiety,
depression, homelessness, substance abuse, and suicide, especially if
left untreated;
Whereas public perceptions of post-traumatic stress as a mental health disorder
create unique challenges for veterans seeking employment;
Whereas the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and
veterans service organizations, as well as the larger medical community,
both private and public, have made significant advances in the
identification, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of post-traumatic
stress and the symptoms of post-traumatic stress, but many challenges
remain;
Whereas increased understanding of post-traumatic stress can help to eliminate
the stigma attached to the mental health issues of post-traumatic
stress;
Whereas additional efforts are needed to find further ways to eliminate the
stigma associated with post-traumatic stress, including the recognition
that post-traumatic stress is often a reparable injury, and examination
of how post-traumatic stress is portrayed by the media;
Whereas timely and appropriate treatment of post-traumatic stress responses can
diminish complications and avert suicides; and
Whereas the designation of a National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month and
a National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day raises public awareness
about issues related to post-traumatic stress, reduces the associated
stigma, and helps ensure that those individuals suffering from the
invisible wounds of war receive proper treatment: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the designation of ``National Post-Traumatic
Stress Awareness Month'' and ``National Post-Traumatic Stress
Awareness Day'';
(2) supports the efforts of the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs and the Secretary of Defense, as well as the entire
medical community, to educate members of the Armed Forces,
veterans, the families of members of the Armed Forces and
veterans, and the public about the causes, symptoms, and
treatment of post-traumatic stress;
(3) supports efforts by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
and the Secretary of Defense to foster cultural change around
the issue of post-traumatic stress, understanding that personal
interactions can save lives and advance treatment;
(4) welcomes the efforts of the National Center for Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder of the Department of Veterans Affairs
and local Vet Centers (as defined in section 1712A(h) of title
38, United States Code) to provide assistance to veterans who
are suffering from the effects of post-traumatic stress;
(5) encourages the leadership of the Armed Forces to
support appropriate treatment of men and women of the Armed
Forces who suffer from post-traumatic stress; and
(6) recognizes the impact of post-traumatic stress on the
spouses and families of members of the Armed Forces and
veterans.
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