[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 541 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 541

Designating June 27, 2010, as ``National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 
                            Awareness Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                 May 27 (legislative day, May 26), 2010

   Mr. Conrad (for himself, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Snowe, Mr. 
  Dorgan, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Franken, Mr. Warner, Mr. 
 Durbin, Mr. Brown of Ohio, Mr. Inouye, and Mr. Rockefeller) submitted 
 the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

                             June 23, 2010

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to with an amended preamble

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Designating June 27, 2010, as ``National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 
                            Awareness Day''.

Whereas the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces, who proudly 
        serve the United States, risk their lives to protect the freedom of the 
        United States and deserve the investment of every possible resource to 
        ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being;
Whereas 12 percent of Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans, 11 percent of Operation 
        Enduring Freedom veterans, 10 percent of Operation Desert Storm 
        veterans, 30 percent of Vietnam veterans, and at least 8 percent of the 
        general population of the United States suffers from Post Traumatic 
        Stress Disorder (referred to in this preamble as ``PTSD'');
Whereas the incidence of PTSD in members of the military is rising as the United 
        States Armed Forces conducts 2 wars, exposing hundreds of thousands of 
        soldiers to traumatic life-threatening events;
Whereas women, who are more than twice as likely to experience PTSD than men, 
        are increasingly engaged in direct combat on the front lines, putting 
        these women at even greater risk of PTSD;
Whereas--

    (1) from 2003 to 2007, approximately 40,000 Department of Defense 
patients were diagnosed with PTSD; and

    (2) from 2000 to 2009--

    G    (A) more than 5,000 individuals were hospitalized with a primary 
diagnosis of PTSD; and

    G    (B) more than 500,000 individuals were treated for PTSD in 
outpatient visits;

Whereas PTSD significantly increases the risk of depression, suicide, and drug 
        and alcohol related disorders and deaths;
Whereas the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs have made significant 
        advances in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSD and the 
        symptoms of PTSD, but many challenges remain; and
Whereas the establishment of a National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness 
        Day will raise public awareness about issues related to PTSD: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates June 27, 2010, as ``National Post-Traumatic 
        Stress Disorder Awareness Day'';
            (2) urges the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the 
        Secretary of Defense to continue working to educate 
        servicemembers, veterans, the families of servicemembers and 
        veterans, and the public about the causes, symptoms, and 
        treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder; and
            (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
        transmit a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs and the Secretary of Defense.
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