[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 82 (Thursday, May 27, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4553-S4554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

 SENATE RESOLUTION 541--DESIGNATING JUNE 27, 2010, AS ``NATIONAL POST-
               TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AWARENESS DAY''

  Mr. CONRAD submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 541

       Whereas the brave men and women of the United States Armed 
     Forces, who proudly serve the United States, risk their lives 
     to protect the freedom of the United States and deserve the 
     investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting 
     physical, mental, and emotional well-being;
       Whereas 12 percent of Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans, 11 
     percent of Operation Enduring Freedom veterans, 10 percent of 
     Operation Desert Storm veterans, 30 percent of Vietnam 
     veterans, and at least 8 percent of the general population of 
     the United States suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder 
     (referred to in this preamble as ``PTSD'');
       Whereas the incidence of PTSD in members of the military is 
     rising as the United States Armed Forces conducts 2 wars, 
     exposing hundreds of thousands of soldiers to traumatic life-
     threatening events;
       Whereas women, who are more than twice as likely to 
     experience PTSD than men, are increasingly engaged in direct 
     combat on the front lines, putting these women at even 
     greater risk of PTSD;
       Whereas--
       (1) from 2003 to 2007, approximately 40,000 Department of 
     Defense patients were diagnosed with PTSD; and
       (2) from 2000 to 2009--
          (A) more than 5,000 individuals were hospitalized with a 
     primary diagnosis of PTSD; and
          (B) more than 500,000 individuals were treated for PTSD 
     in outpatient visits;
       Whereas PTSD significantly increases the risk of 
     depression, suicide, and drug and alcohol related disorders 
     and deaths;
       Whereas the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs 
     have made significant advances in the prevention, diagnosis, 
     and treatment of PTSD and the symptoms of PTSD, but many 
     challenges remain; and

[[Page S4554]]

       Whereas the establishment of a National Post-Traumatic 
     Stress Disorder Awareness Day will raise public awareness 
     about issues related to PTSD: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates June 27, 2010, as ``National Post-Traumatic 
     Stress Disorder Awareness Day'';
       (2) urges the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the 
     Secretary of Defense to continue working to educate 
     servicemembers, veterans, the families of servicemembers and 
     veterans, and the public about the causes, symptoms, and 
     treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder; and
       (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
     transmit a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense.

  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, today I am submitting a Senate resolution 
to designate June 27, 2010, as National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 
Awareness Day. That date was inspired by the birthday of North Dakota 
National Guard Staff Sergeant Joe Biel. Staff Sergeant Biel served two 
tours of duty in Iraq as a Trailblazer, part of a unit responsible for 
route clearance operations. Each day, Joe's mission was to go out with 
his unit every day to find and remove Improvised Explosive Devices and 
other dangers from heavily traveled roads to make it safe for coalition 
forces and Iraqi civilians to travel. As a result of those experiences, 
Joe suffered from PTSD and, tragically, took his own life in April 
2007. There is absolutely no doubt that Joe Biel is a hero who gave his 
life for our country.
  I learned of Joe's story because friends from his platoon, the 4th 
Platoon, A Company, of the North Dakota National Guard's 164th Combat 
Engineer Battalion, have organized an annual motorcycle ride across the 
state of North Dakota in his memory. The Joe Biel Memorial Ride serves 
as a reunion for the 164th, a memorial for a lost friend, and a beacon 
to those suffering from PTSD and other mental issues across the region. 
The key point made to me by the event's organizer, Staff Sergeant Matt 
Leaf, is that we have to raise awareness of this disease so that the 
lives of servicemembers, veterans, and other PTSD sufferers can be by 
greater awareness of and treatment for this disorder.
  For many, the war does not end when the warrior comes home. All too 
many servicemembers and veterans face PTSD symptoms like anxiety, 
anger, and depression as they try to adjust to life after war. We 
cannot sweep these problems under the rug. PTSD is real. The Department 
of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs have made significant 
advances in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSD and its 
symptoms, but many challenges yet remain. More must be done to inform 
and educate veterans, families and communities on the facts about this 
illness and the resources and treatments available. That is why SSG 
Leaf and his fellow Trailblazers started the Joe Biel Memorial Bike 
Ride. And that is why I am introducing this Resolution. These efforts 
are about letting our troops--past and present--know it's okay to come 
forward and say they need help. It's a sign of strength, not weakness, 
to seek assistance. It is my hope that this message will be heard. In 
the words of SSG Leaf, ``maybe if we all take a minute to listen, we 
can stop one more tragedy from ever happening again.''
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a letter about Joe Biel 
be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                      Joe Biel Memorial Bike Ride

       On April 26th 2007 we lost one of the best soldiers the 
     United States Military and the North Dakota Army National 
     Guard had ever had the privilege of enlisting. Staff Sergeant 
     Joseph Arthur Biel took his own life in Devils Lake North 
     Dakota surrounded by his peers superiors and some of his best 
     friends. He shot himself in the mouth while these people 
     looked on and his last words were ``tell everybody I love 
     them'' the shot was heard as far away as Fargo North Dakota. 
     Specialist David Young was on the phone with SSG Matthew Leaf 
     while standing directly in front of SSG Biel as he pulled the 
     trigger. This was the most horrific and worst day of our 
     lives. Tears did not stop for 3 days as Joe's platoon (4th 
     platoon A Company 164 Combat Engineers) deployed upon the 
     small town of Devils Lake North Dakota. Everybody was asking 
     one question ``Why?''
       Why we failed Joe Biel? Why we did not understand PTSD? Why 
     so many of us have problems when we return from overseas? Why 
     nobody wants to listen? Why nobody understands? Why we are 
     afraid to talk about it? Why we think nobody cares? Why can't 
     I get help? Why will nobody listen to me? These are the 
     questions that race through our minds after this tragedy. We 
     deserve and have earned the right to be understood. The 
     answer is too simple. PTSD is real and it needs to be 
     addressed now. With the help of fellow veterans, spouses, 
     loved ones, the V.A. and our Government. Please take the time 
     to listen too and understand this disorder and at the very 
     least be made aware of how this is affecting our Veterans and 
     our lives, not just those who have served but all of the fine 
     citizens of the United States. Maybe if we all take a minute 
     to listen we can stop one more tragedy from ever happening 
     again.

       Sincerely SSG Matthew James Leaf, North Dakota Army 
     National Guard.

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