[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 101 (Thursday, June 23, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4553-S4554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 512--DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF JUNE 2016 AS ``NATIONAL 
     POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS AWARENESS MONTH'' AND JUNE 27, 2016, AS 
            ``NATIONAL POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS AWARENESS DAY''

  Ms. HEITKAMP (for herself, Mr. Heller, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Blumenthal, 
Mr. Tillis, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Grassley, Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Collins, Mr. 
Warner, Mr. Inhofe, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Hoeven, 
Mr. Casey, Mr. Daines, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Tester, Mr. 
Moran, Mr. Markey, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Coons, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Peters, Mr. 
King, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Donnelly) submitted 
the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 512

       Whereas the brave men and women of the Armed Forces of the 
     United States (in this preamble referred to as the ``Armed 
     Forces''), who proudly serve the United States, risk their 
     lives to protect the freedom of the people of the United 
     States and deserve the investment of every possible resource 
     to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-
     being;
       Whereas more than 2,000,000 members of the Armed Forces 
     have deployed overseas since the events of September 11, 
     2001, and have served in places such as Afghanistan and Iraq;
       Whereas the Armed Forces have sustained a historically high 
     operational tempo since September 11, 2001, with many members 
     of the Armed Forces deploying overseas multiple times, 
     placing those members at high risk of experiencing combat 
     stress;
       Whereas, when left untreated, exposure to traumatic combat 
     stress can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (in this 
     preamble referred to as ``PTSD''), sometimes referred to as 
     post-traumatic stress injury;
       Whereas men and women of the Armed Forces and veterans who 
     served before September 11, 2001, remain at risk for PTSD and 
     other mental health disorders;
       Whereas the Secretary of Veterans Affairs reports that, in 
     fiscal year 2015, more than 569,000 of the nearly 6,000,000 
     veterans who sought care at a medical facility of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs received treatment for PTSD;
       Whereas many combat stress injuries remain unreported, 
     undiagnosed, and untreated due to a lack of awareness about 
     post-traumatic stress and the persistent stigma associated 
     with mental health conditions;
       Whereas exposure to military trauma can lead to PTSD;

[[Page S4554]]

       Whereas PTSD significantly increases the risk of anxiety, 
     depression, suicide, homelessness, and drug- and alcohol-
     related disorders and deaths, especially if left untreated;
       Whereas public perceptions of PTSD or other mental health 
     disorders create unique challenges for veterans seeking 
     employment;
       Whereas the Department of Defense and the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs, as well as the larger medical community, 
     both private and public, have made significant advances in 
     the identification, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of 
     PTSD and the symptoms of PTSD, but many challenges remain;
       Whereas increased understanding of post-traumatic stress 
     can help eliminate the stigma attached to this mental health 
     issue;
       Whereas additional efforts are needed to find further ways 
     to eliminate the stigma associated with post-traumatic 
     stress, including--
       (1) an examination of how post-traumatic stress is 
     discussed in the United States; and
       (2) a recognition that post-traumatic stress is a common 
     injury that is treatable and repairable;
       Whereas post-traumatic stress can result from any number of 
     stressors other than combat, including rape, sexual assault, 
     battery, torture, confinement, child abuse, car accidents, 
     train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, or natural disasters, 
     and affects approximately 8,000,000 adults in the United 
     States annually; and
       Whereas the designation of a National Post-Traumatic Stress 
     Awareness Month and a National Post-Traumatic Stress 
     Awareness Day will raise public awareness about issues 
     related to post-traumatic stress, reduce the associated 
     stigma, and help ensure that those individuals suffering from 
     the invisible wounds of war receive proper treatment: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates June 2016 as ``National Post-Traumatic 
     Stress Awareness Month'' and June 27, 2016, as ``National 
     Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day'';
       (2) supports the efforts of the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs and the Secretary of Defense, as well as the entire 
     medical community, to educate members of the Armed Forces of 
     the United States, veterans, the families of members of the 
     Armed Forces of the United States and veterans, and the 
     public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-
     traumatic stress;
       (3) welcomes the efforts of the National Center for PTSD of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs and local Vet Centers (as 
     defined in section 1712A(h) of title 38, United States Code) 
     to provide assistance to veterans who are suffering from the 
     effects of this injury;
       (4) encourages commanders of the Armed Forces of the United 
     States to support appropriate treatment of men and women of 
     the Armed Forces of the United States who are diagnosed with 
     post-traumatic stress disorder; and
       (5) 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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