[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 21, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3978-S3979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         NATIONAL POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AWARENESS DAY

  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 202 and 
the Senate proceed to its consideration.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 202) designating June 27, 2011, as 
     ``National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be 
considered; the Conrad amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to; 
the resolution, as amended, be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, 
the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening 
action or debate, and any statements related to the matter be printed 
in the Record.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The amendment (No. 498) was agreed to, as follows:

                  (Purpose: To improve the resolution)

       On page 2, beginning on line 4, strike ``urges'' through 
     ``working'' on line 5 and insert ``supports the efforts of 
     the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of 
     Defense''.

  The resolution (S. Res. 202), as amended, was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, as amended, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 202

       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 reasonable resource to ensure their 
     lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being;
       Whereas 2.4 percent of servicemembers returning from 
     deployment to Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi 
     Freedom are clinically diagnosed with post-traumatic stress 
     disorder (referred to in this preamble as ``PTSD'') and up to 
     17 percent of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi 
     Freedom veterans exposed to sustained ground combat report 
     PTSD symptoms;
       Whereas up to 10 percent of Operation Desert Storm 
     veterans, 30 percent of Vietnam veterans, and 8 percent of 
     the general population of the United States suffer or have 
     suffered from PTSD;
       Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs reports that 
     more than 438,000 veterans were treated for PTSD in 2010 
     alone;
       Whereas many cases of PTSD remain unreported, undiagnosed, 
     and untreated due to a lack of awareness about PTSD and the 
     persistent stigma associated with mental health issues;
       Whereas PTSD significantly increases the risk of 
     depression, suicide, and drug- and alcohol-related disorders 
     and deaths, especially if left untreated;
       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
       Whereas the establishment of a National Post-Traumatic 
     Stress Disorder Awareness Day will raise public awareness 
     about issues related to PTSD and help ensure that those 
     suffering from the invisible wounds of war receive proper 
     treatment: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates June 27, 2011, as ``National Post-Traumatic 
     Stress Disorder Awareness Day'';
       (2) supports the efforts of the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs and the Secretary of Defense 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

[[Page S3979]]

       (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.

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