[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 110 (Monday, June 15, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2975-S2976]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 618--DESIGNATING JUNE 2020 AS ``NATIONAL POST-
  TRAUMATIC STRESS AWARENESS MONTH'' AND JUNE 27, 2020, AS ``NATIONAL 
                 POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS AWARENESS DAY''

  Mr. SULLIVAN (for himself, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Van Hollen, 
Mr. Cramer, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Tester, Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs. 
Feinstein, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Loeffler, Mrs. Capito, Mrs. 
Shaheen, Mr. Hoeven, Ms. Smith, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Reed, Mr. Crapo, Mr. 
Wicker, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Roberts, Mr. 
Portman, Mr. Cruz, and Mr. Braun) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 618

       Whereas the brave men and women of the Armed Forces, who 
     proudly serve the United States--
       (1) risk their lives to protect the freedom, health, and 
     welfare of the people of the United States; and
       (2) deserve the investment of every possible resource to 
     ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-
     being;
       Whereas, since the events of September 11, 2001, nearly 
     2,800,000 members of the Armed Forces have deployed overseas 
     and served in places such as Afghanistan and Iraq;
       Whereas the current generation of men and women in the 
     Armed Forces has sustained a high rate of operational 
     deployments, with many members of the Armed Forces serving 
     overseas multiple times, placing those members at high risk 
     of enduring traumatic combat stress;
       Whereas, when left untreated, exposure to traumatic combat 
     stress can lead to severe and chronic post-traumatic stress 
     responses, which are commonly referred to as post-traumatic 
     stress disorder (referred to in this preamble as ``PTSD'') or 
     post-traumatic stress injury;
       Whereas many men and women of the Armed Forces and veterans 
     who served before September 11, 2001, live with mental health 
     needs from post-traumatic stress and remain at risk for 
     responses to that stress;
       Whereas many post-traumatic stress responses 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 post-traumatic stress significantly increases the 
     risk of post-traumatic stress responses, including anxiety, 
     depression, homelessness, substance abuse, and suicide, 
     especially if left untreated;
       Whereas the Secretary of Veterans Affairs reports that--
       (1) between 11 and 20 percent of veterans who served in 
     Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom have 
     post-traumatic stress in a given year;
       (2) approximately 12 percent of veterans who served in the 
     Persian Gulf War have post-traumatic stress in a given year; 
     and
       (3) approximately 30 percent of veterans who served in the 
     Vietnam era have had post-traumatic stress in their 
     lifetimes;
       Whereas public perceptions of post-traumatic stress as a 
     mental health disorder create unique challenges for veterans 
     seeking employment;
       Whereas the Department of Defense, the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs, veterans service organizations, and the 
     private and public medical community have made significant 
     advances in the identification, prevention, diagnosis, and 
     treatment of post-traumatic stress and the symptoms of post-
     traumatic stress, but many challenges remain;
       Whereas increased understanding of post-traumatic stress 
     can help eliminate stigma attached to the mental health 
     issues of post-traumatic stress;
       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;
       Whereas timely and appropriate treatment of post-traumatic 
     stress responses can diminish complications and avert 
     suicides;
       Whereas post-traumatic stress--
       (1) 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, natural disasters, or global pandemics; 
     and
       (2) affects approximately 8,000,000 adults in the United 
     States annually;
       Whereas traumatic events such as the COVID-19 pandemic 
     could--
       (1) increase the number of individuals impacted by post-
     traumatic stress; or
       (2) exacerbate the responses of post-traumatic stress;
       Whereas the diagnosis of PTSD was first defined by the 
     American Psychiatric Association in 1980 to commonly and more 
     accurately understand and treat survivors of physical and 
     psychological trauma, including veterans who had endured 
     severe traumatic combat stress;
       Whereas the word ``disorder'' can perpetuate the stigma 
     associated with combat stress, so the more general term 
     ``post-traumatic stress'' is often preferred; and
       Whereas the designation of a National Post-Traumatic Stress 
     Awareness Month and a National Post-Traumatic Stress 
     Awareness Day raises public awareness about issues relating 
     to post-traumatic stress, reduces the stigma associated with 
     post-traumatic stress, and helps ensure that individuals 
     suffering from the invisible wounds of war receive proper 
     treatment: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates--
       (A) June 2020 as ``National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness 
     Month''; and
       (B) June 27, 2020, as ``National Post-Traumatic Stress 
     Awareness Day'';
       (2) supports the efforts of the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs, the Secretary of Defense,

[[Page S2976]]

     and the entire medical community to educate members of the 
     Armed Forces, veterans, the families of members of the Armed 
     Forces and veterans, and the public about the causes, 
     symptoms, and treatment of post-traumatic stress;
       (3) supports efforts by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     and the Secretary of Defense to foster--
       (A) cultural change around the issue of post-traumatic 
     stress; and
       (B) understanding that personal interactions can save lives 
     and advance treatment;
       (4) welcomes the efforts of the National Center for Post-
     Traumatic Stress Disorder 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 post-traumatic 
     stress;
       (5) encourages the leadership of the Armed Forces to 
     support appropriate treatment of men and women of the Armed 
     Forces who suffer from post-traumatic stress;
       (6) recognizes the impact of post-traumatic stress on the 
     spouses and families of members of the Armed Forces and 
     veterans; and
       (7) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
     transmit a copy of this resolution to--
       (A) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and
       (B) the Secretary of Defense.

                          ____________________