[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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