[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 161 (Wednesday, December 8, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H8102-H8104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING EFFORTS OF WELCOME BACK VETERANS
Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1746) recognizing and supporting the
efforts of Welcome Back Veterans to augment the services provided by
the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs in providing timely and
world-class care for veterans and members of the Armed Forces suffering
from PTSD and related psychiatric disorders, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1746
Whereas the Boston Red Sox Foundation has been augmenting
the Departments of Defense and Veterans' Affairs in providing
care for veterans and members of the Armed Forces suffering
from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related
psychiatric disorders;
Whereas members of all components of the United States
Armed Forces have been serving honorably in Iraq and
Afghanistan since 2001;
Whereas deployed soldiers frequently and continually engage
in high-intensity combat operations, exposing them to
potential triggers for PTSD or other psychiatric conditions;
Whereas the prevalence of clinically diagnosed cases of
PTSD in veterans who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan
ranges from 1.5 to 9 percent, depending on exposure risk
factors, and the prevalence of PTSD symptoms in such
veterans, based on self-reported surveys, ranges from 4.2 to
26 percent depending on exposure risk factors;
Whereas those with PTSD are at higher risk for developing
other psychological disorders, such as depression, more
likely to engage in self-destructive behaviors, such as
alcohol and substance abuse;
Whereas PTSD has been associated with unemployment and a
work productivity loss;
Whereas PTSD, left untreated, may exact an additional toll
on individuals, families, and society;
Whereas veterans and active members of the United States
Armed Forces are a distinguished and honored part of our
society and deserve special recognition and treatment for
their sacrifices on our behalf;
Whereas the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives encourages and actively seeks innovative
treatments for PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI);
Whereas Major League Baseball, in partnership with the
McCormick Foundation, the Entertainment Industry Foundation,
and University Hospitals at Weill Cornell, the University of
Michigan and Stanford University have founded Welcome Back
Veterans, a not-for-profit organization committed to creating
a national network of centers to provide the best care to
veterans, and funding groundbreaking research to limit the
scope of PTSD;
Whereas the Boston Red Sox Foundation independently founded
a program to provide PTSD treatment for veterans in
conjunction with Massachusetts General Hospital;
Whereas Welcome Back Veterans through Major League Baseball
Charities and the Boston Red Sox Foundation have funded
efforts at four hospitals and universities--Massachusetts
General in Boston, Weill Cornell in New York, the University
of Michigan, and Stanford University in California;
Whereas Major League Baseball and the Boston Red Sox
Foundation have already raised $15,000,000 in private funding
to support treatment, research, and innovation in PTSD care
through grants to other service organizations;
Whereas the University of Michigan has already begun
treatment of hundreds of members of the Armed Forces and
veterans in a new buddy-to-buddy program;
Whereas Massachusetts General is providing evaluations and
treatment to local veterans with PTSD and TBI, family
counseling, and outreach for family members of veterans
affected by these two conditions;
Whereas Massachusetts General, Weill Cornell, and Stanford
University are doing ongoing research to improve treatments
and community education of health workers, clergy, social
workers, human resource providers, and others;
Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs provides some
counseling services to family members of those suffering from
PTSD;
Whereas the University of Michigan and Massachusetts
General are providing counseling and related services to
family members of those suffering from PTSD;
Whereas 5,000 veterans and members of the Armed Forces are
already receiving help through the Welcome Back Veterans
program; and
Whereas Welcome Back Veterans is committed to a public-
private partnership with appropriate government agencies to
continue to expand their work and outreach: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes and supports the efforts of Welcome Back
Veterans to augment the services provided by the Departments
of Defense and Veterans Affairs in providing timely and
world-class care for veterans and members of the Armed Forces
suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and related
psychiatric disorders; and
(2) encourages the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
establish innovative public-private partnerships for the
treatment and research of post-traumatic stress disorder in
teaching hospitals across the country.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr. Donnelly) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana.
General Leave
Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend
their remarks and include extraneous material on House Resolution 1746,
as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Indiana?
There was no objection.
Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, before I talk about the importance of the resolution
before us today, I want to thank the Committee on Armed Services for
working with us to bring this resolution to the floor and would ask
that the exchange of letters waiving jurisdiction between the Committee
on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services be inserted
into the Congressional Record.
Mr. Speaker, we are all aware that post-traumatic stress disorder,
PTSD, is one of the signature wounds of Operation New Dawn and
Operation Enduring Freedom. Countless reports and studies bear out this
statement. Most significantly, a 2008 study released by the RAND
Corporation reported that one in five veterans of the wars in Iraq or
Afghanistan are suffering from PTSD. Studies by other experts and by
the VA itself demonstrate how widespread and serious PTSD is; and as
more servicemembers return home, the problem will only grow larger.
VA has made important strides in the treatment of PTSD. They boast
providers throughout the Nation who offer excellent care for PTSD and
researchers who have found innovative, ground-breaking new treatments
as well. But VA cannot combat PTSD alone. Dedicated advocates and
organizations throughout the country are committed to doing their part
to help provide care for our veterans.
Welcome Back Veterans has answered this call to service. The
partnership between Major League Baseball, the McCormick Foundation,
the Entertainment Industry Foundation and the university hospitals at
Weill Cornell, the University of Michigan, Stanford University, and the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology have already made tremendous
accomplishments on behalf of our veterans.
They have raised over $15 million for PTSD treatment and research and
are working closely with hospitals in Massachusetts, New York,
Michigan, and California to help provide care to over 5,000
servicemembers. But for all the great things that Welcome Back Veterans
has accomplished, I know they are poised to do so much more. They are
continuing to work hard to care for our veterans, and I look forward to
watching them continue with these efforts.
[[Page H8103]]
Welcome Back Veterans deserves our formal recognition for the great
work they have done. I urge you to join me in offering my gratitude to
Welcome Back Veterans by supporting House Resolution 1746.
House Committee on Armed Services, House of
Representatives,
Washington, DC, December 7, 2010.
Hon. Bob Filner,
Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Filner: I am writing to you concerning H.
Res. 1746, recognizing and supporting the efforts of Welcome
Back Veterans to augment the services provided by the
Departments of Defense and Veterans' Affairs in providing
timely and world-class care for veterans and members of the
Armed Forces suffering from PTSD and related psychiatric
disorders. This measure was referred to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed
Services, 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.
Our committee recognizes the importance of H. Res. 1746,
and the need for the resolution to move expeditiously.
Therefore, while we have a valid claim to jurisdiction over
this legislation, the Committee on Armed Services will waive
further consideration of H. Res. 1746. I do so with the
understanding that by waiving consideration of the
resolution, the Committee on Armed Services does not waive
any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters
contained in the resolution which fall within its Rule X
jurisdiction.
Please place this letter and a copy of your response into
the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure
on the House floor. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in
which you have worked regarding this matter and others
between our respective committees.
Very truly yours,
Ike Skelton,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
Washington, DC, December 7, 2010.
Hon. Ike Skelton,
Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Skelton: Thank you for your letter regarding
House Resolution 1746, ``Recognizing and supporting the
efforts of Welcome Back Veterans to augment the services
provided by the Departments of Defense and Veterans' Affairs
in providing timely and world-class care for veterans and
members of the Armed Forces suffering from PTSD and related
psychiatric disorders.'' This measure was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs and sequentially referred to
the Committee on Armed Services.
I agree that the Committee on Armed Services has certain
valid jurisdictional claims to this resolution, and I
appreciate your decision to waive further consideration of H.
Res. 1746 in the interest of expediting consideration of this
important measure. I agree that by agreeing to waive further
consideration, the Committee on Armed Services is not waiving
its jurisdictional claims over similar measures in the
future.
During consideration of this measure on the House floor, I
will ask that this exchange of letters be included in the
Congressional Record.
Sincerely,
Bob Filner,
Chairman.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1746, as amended,
a bill to recognize and support the efforts of the Welcome Back
Veterans organization to augment the services provided by the
Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs in providing timely and
world-class care for veterans and members of the Armed Forces suffering
from post-traumatic stress disorder and related psychiatric disorders.
Many of our veterans return from combat in need of assistance due to
the symptoms related to PTSD. Welcome Back Veterans is engaged in a
public-private partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the
Department of Defense, Major League Baseball, the McCormick Foundation
and university hospitals of Weill Cornell, the University of Michigan,
and Stanford University to help veterans by addressing the ongoing
issue of PTSD.
{time} 1110
Nearly 5,000 veterans and members of the Armed Forces are already
receiving help through the Welcome Back Veterans program. To date, the
program has raised over $10 million in funding to help improve the
lives of our veterans and their families. Their Center of Excellence
initiative looks to continue their commitment to veterans by creating a
network of university hospitals that specialize in assisting veterans
who suffer from PTSD.
House Resolution 1746 would resolve that the House of Representatives
recognizes and supports the efforts of Welcome Back Veterans and
encourages the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish innovative
public-private partnerships for the treatment and research of
posttraumatic stress disorder in teaching hospitals across this
country.
Again, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1746.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my good
friend and colleague from New York (Mr. Israel).
Mr. ISRAEL. I thank my good friend and former Long Islander, now from
Indiana, for his leadership and for recognizing me.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution which I had the
privilege of introducing and sponsoring. I want to thank the leaders,
members and staff of the Armed Services Committee and the Veterans'
Affairs Committee for their support and cooperation on this vitally
important resolution.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution recognizes the efforts of Welcome Back
Veterans in providing critically needed treatment for PTSD to veterans
and active members of the Armed Forces. Welcome Back Veterans is a
partnership with Major League Baseball Charities, the Entertainment
Industry Foundation and the McCormick Foundation. They are creating a
network of university hospitals to address the mental health needs of
our servicemembers and their families.
To date, Welcome Back Veterans has raised over $12 million in private
funding to support the treatment and research of PTSD through grants to
other service organizations and has provided treatment to over 5,000
veterans and active duty servicemembers. They have a broad and
integrated and innovative approach towards PTSD. And they should,
because PTSD is known as a ``silent killer.'' One of out of every five
veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq has been affected. It doesn't always
have physical symptoms that are easily recognized. It impacts not just
the servicemember but the family member, loved ones, children.
Servicemembers and veterans with PTSD are at a higher risk for other
challenges, such as depression; higher risk of alcohol and drug abuse;
six times more likely to commit suicide than people without PTSD.
Mr. Speaker, this is a massive problem and it requires a massive
response. It's not just the response from the VA and the Department of
Defense. They are on the front lines of helping those who have been on
the front lines with PTSD. But it's got to go even broader and deeper
than that. We need partners. We need university hospitals. We need good
philanthropic organizations like Major League Baseball Charities and
the Entertainment Industry Foundation and the McCormick Foundation.
They have assembled a team that is addressing this critical need, and
this resolution encourages the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to not
only support that team but continue to build and expand the public-
private partnerships that will make sure that anybody that we send into
combat or into the military theater or into the Department of Defense
who comes back with PTSD has access to treatment and cures.
I want to thank the gentleman again for his leadership.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to commend
Congressman Israel for introducing this much needed resolution and also
as a veteran myself and as a physician, we need to be looking for
public-private partnerships. I couldn't be happier with this because
the VA is not meeting the entire need that we have of our veterans
right now in treating PTSD. We need to look at innovative ways to put
these young men and women back into the workforce and to help them. And
certainly not just with the Iraq and Afghanistan war but through the
Vietnam War and World War II. Many of our troops out there are dealing
with this very, very serious problem. I want to thank these
organizations privately for stepping up.
Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to offer my
enthusiastic endorsement
[[Page H8104]]
of H. Res. 1746, recognizing and supporting the efforts of the non-
profit organization, Welcome Back Veterans, in supplementing the world-
class care that the Departments of Defense and Veterans' Affairs offer
to our returning troops. The grassroots efforts of Welcome Back
Veterans, Major League Baseball and the Boston Red Sox Foundation are
testaments to the strength of the American spirit and patriotism.
We all owe our veterans a debt of gratitude that we cannot repay
easily or quickly. As civilians, we will likely never be able to
understand the sacrifice our veterans have made to safeguard the
freedom we enjoy, the freedom that makes our Nation the greatest in the
world. We can, however, honor our servicemembers by following the
examples of Welcome Back Veterans by providing the resources they need
to be healthy.
Major League Baseball also deserves praise for supporting the Welcome
Back program for supporting the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder research
being done at Massachusetts General in Boston, Weill Cornell in New
York, the University of Michigan and Stanford University in California.
These institutions have also moved into previously uncharted space by
providing supportive services to the families of patients suffering
from PTSD.
Additionally, the League recently honored service men and women on
Veteran's Day. I'm fortunate to represent a veteran who made
significant contributions to World War II and Major League Baseball,
Hall of Fame Cleveland Indians' pitcher Bob Feller. Mr. Feller was the
first major leaguer to volunteer for active duty, enlisting in the Navy
on Dec. 9, 1941, two days after Pearl Harbor and 36 days after his 23rd
birthday. After surviving some of the most violent, and important sea
battles of the war, Feller returned to the Indians and finished his
career with 266 wins and 2,581 strikeouts. Mr. Feller, without a doubt,
was a phenomenal athlete and still is a true patriot. The League's
honor of him and the other veterans reminds us not to take for granted
the freedom to have a national pastime.
I am proud of all the veterans in my Congressional District, and in
America. Many of these men and women shoulder the psychological burden
of war long after they return home, and we must not let them do so
alone. Thanks to the efforts of the Boston Red Sox Foundation, Major
League Baseball, McCormick Foundation, Entertainment Industry
Foundation and University Hospitals at Weill Cornell, the University of
Michigan and Stanford University through Welcome Back Veterans and
executive agencies, we are making sure our service men and women enjoy
the quality of life they so bravely defended. Again, I applaud these
efforts, and challenge members of Congress to continuously build
public-private partnerships that advance the treatment of PTSD.
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today in
support of H. Res. 1746, ``Recognizing and supporting the efforts of
Welcome Back Veterans to augment the services provided by the
Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs in providing timely and
world-class care for veterans and members of the Armed Forces suffering
from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related psychiatric
disorders.''
I would like to begin by thanking my colleague, Representative
Israel, for introducing this resolution to the House, which encourages
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish innovative public-
private partnerships for the treatment and research of PTSD in teaching
hospitals across the country. I urge my colleagues to also support this
resolution, as it honors the fact that those who have fought for our
Nation should remain a priority.
It is important that we, as a Nation, continue to recognize that our
great country stands strongly today because of the dedication and
sacrifice of American veterans. The United States is surely indebted to
the veterans of every conflict, who have made great sacrifices for
themselves and their families in defense of our national security. Our
freedom is intertwined with the sacrifices of our veterans, whose
devotion to our way of life is unparalleled. I am privileged to stand
before you today and officially honor their sacrifices and the role
they play in our Nation.
Every Veterans Day, Americans come together to remember those who
have served our country around the world in the name of freedom and
democracy. The debt that we owe to them is immeasurable. Their
sacrifices and those of their families are freedom's foundation.
Without the brave efforts of all the soldiers, sailors, airmen,
marines, and Coast Guardsmen and their families, our country would not
live so freely.
Deployed soldiers frequently and continually engage in high-intensity
combat operations, exposing them to potential triggers for PTSD or
other psychiatric conditions. A 2008 report published by the RAND
Corporation estimated that one in five Iraq and Afghanistan veterans
are affected by PTSD. Those with PTSD are at high risk for developing
other psychological disorders, such as depression.
Furthermore, those suffering with PTSD are more likely to engage in
self-destructive behaviors, such as alcohol and substance abuse, and
are six times more likely than persons without PTSD to commit suicide.
PTSD has been associated with unemployment and a work productivity
loss, and when left untreated, exacts an enormous toll on individuals,
families, and society as a whole.
This resolution not only solidifies the importance of Veterans Day,
but also extends the importance of support for veterans and their
health and safety throughout the year. In observing Veterans Day, the
people of the United States must also encourage the education of our
youth on how those dedicated individuals have contributed to the United
States' history and today's society. We must continue the tradition of
honoring those who have served for the greatest causes, freedom,
democracy, and justice; their commitment to the United States at home
and abroad should never be forgotten. I am truly proud to rise in
support of the recognition of Welcome Back Veterans for their
commitment to taking care of our soldiers.
We recognize and honor the veterans of the Armed Forces not only of
today, but also of years past, who have sacrificed their lives for our
great Nation. This resolution reaffirms our country's utmost respect
and pride for our service people who have contributed to the shaping of
the United States' history and our current place in the world today. It
shows the true patriotic spirit that many Americans possess, and their
willingness to give back to those who have given so much to maintain
our freedom.
Currently, our Nation has 3 million troops and reservists, and 23
million veterans, who deserve the greatest respect from their fellow
citizens. Our Nation has a proud legacy of appreciation and commitment
maintaining the wellbeing of the men and women who have uniforms in
defense of this country, and we must ensure that this legacy continues
in the future.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I too want to thank my
colleague Mr. Israel for his leadership on this issue. I urge my
colleagues to unanimously support House Resolution 1746, as amended.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Donnelly) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1746, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the
ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a
quorum is not present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
____________________