[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 391 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 391

    Expressing support for designation of the month of June 2017 as 
``National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month'' and June 27, 
   2017, as ``National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 16, 2017

  Mr. Peters (for himself, Mr. Jones, 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 designation of the month of June 2017 as 
``National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month'' and June 27, 
   2017, as ``National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day''.

Whereas the brave men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States, who 
        proudly serve the United States, risk their lives to protect the freedom 
        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 more than 2,000,000 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 Armed Forces of the United States have sustained a historically high 
        operational tempo since September 11, 2001, with many members of the 
        Armed Forces deploying overseas multiple times, placing those members at 
        high risk of post-traumatic stress injury/injuries (referred to in this 
        preamble as ``PTSI'');
Whereas men and women of the Armed Forces and veterans who served before 
        September 11, 2001, remain at risk for PTSI and other mental health 
        injuries;
Whereas the Secretary of Veterans Affairs reports that--

    (1) since October 2001, more than 390,000 of the approximately 
1,160,000 veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, 
and Operation New Dawn who have received health care from the Department of 
Veterans Affairs have been diagnosed with PTSI;

    (2) in fiscal year 2014, more than 531,000 of the nearly 6,000,000 
veterans who sought care at a medical facility of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs received treatment for PTSI; and

    (3) of veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation 
Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn who are receiving health care from 
the Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 615,000 have received a 
diagnosis for at least 1 mental health injury;

Whereas many cases of PTSI remain unreported, undiagnosed, and untreated due to 
        a lack of awareness about PTSI and the persistent stigma associated with 
        mental health conditions;
Whereas exposure to military trauma can lead to PTSI;
Whereas PTSI significantly increases the risk of anxiety, depression, suicide, 
        homelessness, and drug- and alcohol-related injuries and deaths, 
        especially if left untreated;
Whereas public perceptions of PTSI or other mental health injuries create unique 
        challenges for veterans seeking employment;
Whereas the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, as 
        well as the larger medical community, both private and public, have made 
        significant advances in the identification, prevention, diagnosis, and 
        treatment of PTSI and the symptoms of PTSI, but many challenges remain;
Whereas increased understanding of PTSI can help diminish the stigma attached to 
        this mental health issue, and additional efforts are needed to find 
        further ways to reduce this stigma--including an examination of how PTSI 
        is discussed in the United States and a recognition that PTSI is a 
        common injury that is treatable and repairable;
Whereas the diagnosis now known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was first 
        defined by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980 to commonly and 
        more accurately understand and treat veterans who had endured severe 
        traumatic combat stress;
Whereas combat stress has previously been viewed as a mental illness caused by a 
        pre-existing flaw of character and/or ability; and the word ``disorder'' 
        carries a stigma that perpetuates this misconception;
Whereas making PTSI less stigmatizing and more honorable can favorably influence 
        those affected and encourage them to seek help without fear of 
        retribution or shame;
Whereas PTSI can result from any number of stressors other than combat, 
        including rape, sexual assault, battery, torture, confinement, child 
        abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, or natural 
        disaster, and affects approximately 8,000,000 adults in the United 
        States annually; and
Whereas the designation of a National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness 
        Month and a National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Day will raise public 
        awareness about issues related to PTSI, reduce the stigma associated 
        with PTSI, and help ensure that those 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 Injury Awareness Month'' and ``National Post-Traumatic 
        Stress Injury 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 injury/injuries (PTSI);
            (3) encourages commanders of the Armed Forces to support 
        appropriate treatment of men and women of the Armed Forces who 
        are diagnosed with PTSI; and
            (4) respectfully requests that the Clerk of the House of 
        Representatives transmit a copy of this resolution to the 
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense.
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