[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 114 (Wednesday, July 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4346-S4347]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 761--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF THE 
   MONTH OF JUNE 2024 AS ``NATIONAL POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS AWARENESS 
    MONTH'' AND JUNE 27, 2024, AS ``NATIONAL POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS 
                            AWARENESS DAY''

  Mr. SULLIVAN (for himself, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Cramer, Ms. Rosen, Mr. 
Hoeven, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Vance, Mr. 
Kaine, Mr. Ricketts, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. 
Stabenow, Mr. Kelly, Ms. Collins, and Mr. Padilla) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 761

       Whereas the brave men and women of the Armed Forces, who 
     proudly serve the United States, risk their lives to protect 
     the freedom, health, and welfare 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 nearly 2,800,000 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 current generation of men and women in the 
     Armed Forces has sustained a

[[Page S4347]]

     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, 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;
       Whereas the Secretary of Veterans Affairs reports that 
     approximately--
       (1) 11 to 20 percent of veterans who served in Operation 
     Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom have PTSD in a 
     given year;
       (2) 12 percent of veterans who served in the Persian Gulf 
     war have PTSD in a given year; and
       (3) 30 percent of veterans who served in the Vietnam era 
     have had PTSD in their lifetimes;
       Whereas the diagnosis known as PTSD was initially 
     formulated in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association to 
     describe and categorize the symptoms and behavioral 
     complications of severe traumatic stress;
       Whereas the symptoms and behavioral complications of severe 
     traumatic stress have historically been unjustly portrayed in 
     the media, stigmatizing individuals living with post 
     traumatic stress;
       Whereas electro-magnetic imaging has shown that severe 
     traumatic stress causes physical changes in the brain;
       Whereas many post-traumatic stress responses remain 
     unreported, undiagnosed, and untreated due to--
       (1) a lack of awareness about post-traumatic stress and the 
     persistent stigma associated with mental health conditions; 
     and
       (2) a lack of access to mental health treatment;
       Whereas, without timely redress, traumatic stress responses 
     can worsen over time and lead to severe consequences, 
     including self-harm;
       Whereas exposure to trauma during service in the Armed 
     Forces can lead to post-traumatic stress;
       Whereas post-traumatic stress significantly increases the 
     risk of anxiety, depression, homelessness, substance abuse, 
     and suicide, especially if left untreated;
       Whereas public perceptions of post-traumatic stress have 
     created challenges for veterans seeking employment;
       Whereas the Department of Defense, the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs, and veterans service organizations, as well 
     as the larger medical community, both private and public, 
     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 to eliminate the 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 the recognition that post-traumatic stress 
     is often a reparable injury, and examination of how post-
     traumatic stress is portrayed by the media;
       Whereas timely and appropriate treatment of post-traumatic 
     stress responses can diminish complications and prevent 
     suicides; 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 related to 
     post-traumatic stress, reduces the associated stigma, and 
     helps ensure that those individuals suffering from the 
     invisible wounds of war receive proper treatment: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates--
       (A) June 2024 as ``National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness 
     Month''; and
       (B) June 27, 2024, 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, 
     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 cultural change around 
     the issue of post-traumatic stress, understanding that 
     personal interactions can save lives and advance treatment;
       (4) 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; and
       (5) recognizes the impact of post-traumatic stress on the 
     spouses and families of members of the Armed Forces and 
     veterans.

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