[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1746 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1746

  Recognizing and supporting the efforts of Welcome Back Veterans to 
    augment the services provided by the Departments of Defense and 
Veterans' Affairs in providing timely and world-class care for veterans 
    and members of the Armed Forces suffering from PTSD and related 
                         psychiatric disorders.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 1, 2010

 Mr. Israel submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 
   Armed Services, 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


 
  Recognizing and supporting the efforts of Welcome Back Veterans to 
    augment the services provided by the Departments of Defense and 
Veterans' Affairs in providing timely and world-class care for veterans 
    and members of the Armed Forces suffering from PTSD and related 
                         psychiatric disorders.

Whereas the Boston Red Sox Foundation has been augmenting the Departments of 
        Defense and Veterans' Affairs in providing care for veterans and members 
        of the Armed Forces suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 
        and related psychiatric disorders;
Whereas members of all components of the United States Armed Forces have been 
        serving honorably in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001;
Whereas deployed soldiers frequently and continually engage in high-intensity 
        combat operations, exposing them to potential triggers for PTSD or other 
        psychiatric conditions;
Whereas a 2008 report published by the RAND Corporation estimated that one in 
        five Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are affected by PTSD;
Whereas those with PTSD are at high risk for developing other psychological 
        disorders, such as depression, more likely to engage in self-destructive 
        behaviors, such as alcohol and substance abuse, and are six times more 
        likely than persons without PTSD to commit suicide;
Whereas PTSD has been associated with unemployment and a work productivity loss;
Whereas PTSD, left untreated, exacts an enormous toll on individuals, families, 
        and society;
Whereas veterans and active members of the United States Armed Forces are a 
        distinguished and honored part of our society and deserve special 
        recognition and treatment for their sacrifices on our behalf;
Whereas the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives 
        encourages and actively seeks innovative treatments for PTSD and 
        traumatic brain injury (TBI);
Whereas Major League Baseball, in partnership with the McCormick Foundation, the 
        Entertainment Industry Foundation, and University Hospitals at Weill 
        Cornell, the University of Michigan and Stanford University have founded 
        Welcome Back Veterans, a not-for-profit organization committed to 
        creating a national network of centers to provide the best care to 
        veterans, and funding groundbreaking research to limit the scope of 
        PTSD;
Whereas the Boston Red Sox Foundation independently founded a program to provide 
        PTSD treatment for veterans in conjunction with Massachusetts General 
        Hospital;
Whereas Welcome Back Veterans through Major League Baseball Charities and the 
        Boston Red Sox Foundation have funded efforts at four hospitals and 
        universities--Massachusetts General in Boston, Weill Cornell in New 
        York, the University of Michigan, and Stanford University in California;
Whereas has Major League Baseball and the Boston Red Sox Foundation have already 
        raised $15 million in private funding to support treatment, research, 
        and innovation in PTSD care through grants to other service 
        organizations;
Whereas the University of Michigan has already begun treatment of hundreds of 
        members of the Armed Forces and veterans in a new buddy to buddy 
        program;
Whereas Massachusetts General is providing evaluations and treatment to local 
        veterans with PTSD and TBI, family counseling and outreach for family 
        members of veterans affected by these two conditions;
Whereas Massachusetts General, Weill Cornell and Stanford University are doing 
        ongoing research to improve treatments and community education of health 
        workers, clergy, social workers, human resource providers and others;
Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs is currently not providing treatment 
        services for family members of those suffering from PTSD;
Whereas the University of Michigan and Massachusetts General are providing 
        counseling and related services to family members of those suffering 
        from PTSD;
Whereas 5,000 veterans and members of the Armed Forces are already receiving 
        help through the Welcome Back Veterans program; and
Whereas Welcome Back Veterans is committed to a public-private partnership with 
        appropriate government agencies to continue to expand their work and 
        outreach: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes and supports the efforts of Welcome Back 
        Veterans to augment the services provided by the Departments of 
        Defense and Veterans Affairs in providing timely and world-
        class care for veterans and members of the Armed Forces 
        suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and related 
        psychiatric disorders; and
            (2) encourages the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
        establish innovative public-private partnerships for the 
        treatment and research of post-traumatic stress disorder in 
        teaching hospitals across the country.
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