[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 899 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 899

        Recognizing the Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Flag.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 30, 2023

   Mr. Garbarino (for himself, Mr. Ryan, Mr. Self, Mr. Morelle, Ms. 
Malliotakis, and Ms. Tenney) 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


 
        Recognizing the Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Flag.

Whereas military and veterans continue to be at great risk to die by suicide 
        amongst the United States population;
Whereas military and veterans are nearly two times as likely to die by suicide 
        compared to their civilian counterparts, and over 20 veterans and 
        military die by suicide each day in the United States;
Whereas the United States has lost over 100,000 veterans to suicide since 2001, 
        and post 9/11 veterans continue to be at the greatest risk to die by 
        suicide among the veteran population;
Whereas suicide prevention services are vastly underutilized by our military and 
        veterans due to the stigma of mental health, suicide, and seeking 
        treatment;
Whereas the Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Flag (known as the ``S-A-R 
        Flag''), was created by United States Air Force Veteran Kevin W. 
        Hertell, who lost his cousin to suicide in 2016, Senior Airman Robert 
        McRae Dean, United States Air Force;
Whereas Congress would establish the SAR Flag as an official symbol of our 
        Nation's concern and commitment to recognize and resolve military and 
        veteran suicide, break the stigma of mental health, suicide, and seeking 
        treatment within the warrior culture of military and veterans to 
        facilitate suicide prevention, and to honor the service and forever 
        remember the lives of those veterans and military who died by suicide, 
        as well as to honor, respect, and unite their families;
Whereas the SAR Flag also stands as a tangible symbol of hope to living veterans 
        and military to show that we stand with them as they serve our country 
        and transition back to civilian life and remind them that stigma-free 
        treatment is available to facilitate suicide prevention; and
Whereas we seek to elevate this issue in the public consciousness and raise our 
        continued awareness, which promotes open dialogue and understanding 
        about mental health issues among veterans and military members, breaks 
        down the stigmas surrounding seeking help, and ensures that our veterans 
        and military have access to the necessary resources and support without 
        judgment: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) officially recognizes the Suicide Awareness and 
        Remembrance Flag and designates the flag as the Nation's symbol 
        to raise our continued awareness of military and veteran 
        suicide, as well as our commitment to recognize and resolve 
        military and veteran suicide;
            (2) forever remembers the lives and honors the service of 
        those military and veterans who have died by suicide;
            (3) commits to the raising of awareness of veteran and 
        military suicide via the SAR flag; and
            (4) commits to posting the SAR Flag above all Federal 
        buildings wherever there is an American Flag and POW/MIA Flag, 
        365 days of the calendar year.
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