[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 206 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 206

      Designating June 10, 2023, as ``Veterans Get Outside Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 10, 2023

   Mr. Cassidy (for himself, Mr. King, and Mr. Cramer) submitted the 
   following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
      Designating June 10, 2023, as ``Veterans Get Outside Day''.

Whereas, between 2000 and 2022, the Department of Defense found that more than 
        460,000 members of the Armed Forces were diagnosed with traumatic brain 
        injuries;
Whereas studies have found that, after decades of combat in Afghanistan and 
        Iraq, 20 percent of veterans of the Armed Forces are suffering from 
        post-traumatic stress and depression;
Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs found that veterans suffer a 
        disproportionately higher rate of suicide compared to nonveterans, and 
        post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, depression, and anxiety 
        are root causes of the suicide epidemic in the veteran community, with 
        an estimated 16.8 suicides per day in 2020;
Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs has been successful in reducing the 
        number of veterans' suicides, but there are still gaps in mental health 
        care for veterans, and the United States needs to use every treatment 
        available to support the veteran community;
Whereas studies have shown that exposure to nature and the outdoors have a 
        positive therapeutic impact on mental health, including by resulting in 
        lower risks of depression and improved focus and attention, and even a 
        single day outside can improve an individual's overall mood and lessen 
        feelings of isolation;
Whereas studies have found that individuals with increased access to green space 
        have a lower suicide risk;
Whereas the Forest Service sponsors a National Get Outdoors Day to promote the 
        health benefits of outdoor recreational activities;
Whereas the United States has recognized the need to connect veterans with 
        nature by providing free admission to national parks and forests; and
Whereas a targeted outreach effort, such as Veterans Get Outside Day, to 
        veterans living with post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, 
        depression, and anxiety may lead to further participation in outside 
        events and improved mental health outcomes: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates June 10, 2023, as ``Veterans Get Outside 
        Day''; and
            (2) encourages the Department of Veterans Affairs, the 
        Forest Service, and the Department of the Interior to 
        coordinate and cooperate in promoting ``Veterans Get Outside 
        Day'' along with National Get Outdoors Day.
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