[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 80 (Thursday, May 11, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1629]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 208--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF 
NOVEMBER 12, 2023, AS ``NATIONAL WARRIOR CALL DAY'' AND RECOGNIZING THE 
   IMPORTANT OF CONNECTING WARRIORS IN THE UNITED STATES TO SUPPORT 
  STRUCTURES NECESSARY TO TRANSITION FROM THE BATTLEFIELD, ESPECIALLY 
                        PEER-TO-PEER CONNECTION

  Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Casey, Mr. Boozman, Ms. 
Warren, Mr. Thune, Mr. Welch, Mr. Risch, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. 
Hickenlooper, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. 
Tester, Mr. Grassley, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Schmitt, Mr. 
Cramer, and Ms. Rosen) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 208

       Whereas establishing an annual ``National Warrior Call 
     Day'' will draw attention to the members of the Armed Forces 
     whose connection to one another is key to the veterans in the 
     United States who may be dangerously disconnected from 
     family, friends, and support systems;
       Whereas the number of suicides of members of the Armed 
     Forces serving on active duty was 519 in 2021;
       Whereas, in 2020, there were 6,146 veteran suicide deaths, 
     and the unadjusted rate of suicide in 2020 among veterans was 
     31.7 per 100,000;
       Whereas, after adjusting for sex and age, the rate of 
     veteran suicide in 2020 was 57 percent higher than non-
     veteran adults;
       Whereas more veterans have died by suicide in the last 10 
     years than members of the Armed Forces who died from combat 
     in Vietnam;
       Whereas many of the veterans who take their own lives have 
     had no contact with the Department of Veterans Affairs;
       Whereas the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic 
     can lead to increased isolation and disconnection, further 
     exacerbating mental and physical ailments such as post-
     traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury;
       Whereas invisible wounds linked to an underlying and 
     undiagnosed traumatic brain injury can mirror many mental 
     health conditions, a problem that can be addressed through 
     appropriate medical treatment;
       Whereas additional research is needed to highlight the 
     connection between traumatic brain injury as a root cause of 
     invisible wounds and suicide by members of the Armed Forces 
     and veterans; and
       Whereas November 12, 2023, would be an appropriate day to 
     designate as ``National Warrior Call Day'': Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the designation of November 12, 2023, as 
     ``National Warrior Call Day'';
       (2) encourages all individuals in the United States, 
     especially members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty 
     and veterans, to call a warrior, have an honest conversation, 
     and connect them with support, understanding that making a 
     warrior call could save a life; and
       (3) implores all individuals in the United States to 
     recommit themselves to engaging with members of the Armed 
     Forces through ``National Warrior Call Day'' and other 
     constructive efforts that result in solutions and treatment 
     for the invisible scars that members of the Armed Forces 
     carry.

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