[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 144 (Thursday, November 3, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART SUPPORTS COMPREHENSIVE ASSISTANCE 
   FOR VETERANS EXPOSED TO TRAUMATIC STRESSORS ACT OF 2005, H.R. 1588

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LANE EVANS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 2, 2005

  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, whose 
membership is comprised entirely of combat wounded veterans, fully 
supports H.R. 1588, which is a comprehensive approach to addressing the 
mental health needs of service members exposed to combat, including 
those members of our Armed Forces now serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  A recent Army survey found that about 28 percent of Iraq veterans--
about 50,000 servicemembers in this year alone--returned home with 
problems from lingering battle wounds to toothaches, from suicidal 
thoughts to strained marriages. Almost 1,700 servicemembers returning 
from the battlefield this year had thoughts of hurting themselves or 
that they would be better off dead. If left undiagnosed and untreated, 
post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, can lead to suicide.
  Last year, the New England Journal of Medicine published research 
that found 15 to 17 percent of front-line troops suffered depression, 
anxiety or PTSD.
  As the MOPH letter states, ``We have learned from past wars that the 
injuries to military members do not stop on the battlefield but may 
manifest themselves months or years afterward. America must be there to 
help the healing process. H.R. 1588 would accomplish this goal.''
  I ask that the letter from the Military Order of the Purple Heart be 
included in the Record.

                                             Military Order of the


                                                 Purple Heart,

                                Springfield, VA, November 1, 2005.
     Hon. Lane Evans,
     Rayburn House Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman Evans: On behalf of the membership of the 
     Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), whose membership 
     is comprised entirely of combat wounded veterans, I write to 
     pledge our unequivocal support of H.R. 1588 the 
     ``Comprehensive Assistance for Veterans Exposed to Traumatic 
     Stressors Act of 2005''.
       At a time when our military men and women are engaged in 
     the war on terrorism this act is most appropriate. We have 
     learned from past wars that the injuries to military members 
     do not stop on the battlefield but may manifest themselves 
     months or years afterward. America must be there to help the 
     healing process. H.R. 1588 would help accomplish this goal.
       You may count on the MOPH in anyway possible to ensure that 
     this legislation becomes law.
           Respectfully,
                                                 James D. Randles,
     National Commander.

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