[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 148 (Monday, September 23, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6334-S6335]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 838--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF 
NOVEMBER 17, 2024, AS ``NATIONAL WARRIOR CALL DAY'' AND RECOGNIZING THE 
   IMPORTANCE 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. Risch, Mr. 
Whitehouse, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Warnock, Mr. 
Boozman, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Thune, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Tuberville, Ms. 
Sinema, Mrs. Britt, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Capito, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Rubio, 
Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Booker, Mr. Cruz, Ms. Warren, Mr. 
Crapo, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. King, Mrs. 
Blackburn, Mr. Kaine, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Schmitt, Ms. 
Baldwin, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Padilla, 
and Mr. Sullivan) submitted the following resolution; which was 
considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 838

       Whereas establishing an annual ``National Warrior Call 
     Day'' will draw attention to the members of the Armed Forces 
     and veterans whose connection to one another is key to 
     supporting the members of the Armed Forces and 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 492 in 2022;
       Whereas, in 2022, the total count of Armed Forces suicide 
     deaths went down, but the overall rate of Armed Forces 
     suicide deaths per 100,000 went up by 3 percent;
       Whereas, in 2021, there were 6,392 veteran suicide deaths, 
     and the unadjusted rate of suicide in 2021 among veterans was 
     33.9 per 100,000;
       Whereas, after adjusting for sex and age, the rate of 
     veteran suicide in 2021 was nearly 72 percent higher than the 
     rate of suicide in non-veteran adults;
       Whereas a greater number of veterans have died by suicide 
     in the 10 years preceding the adoption of this resolution 
     than members of the Armed Forces who died from combat in 
     Vietnam;
       Whereas many of the veterans who die by suicide have had no 
     known contact with the Department of Veterans Affairs;
       Whereas a myriad of factors leads to increased isolation 
     and disconnection, further exacerbating mental and physical 
     ailments such as post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic 
     brain injury, anxiety, and depression;
       Whereas invisible wounds linked to an underlying and 
     undiagnosed traumatic brain injury can present as or 
     exacerbate 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 17, 2024, 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 17, 2024, 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 and veterans through ``National Warrior Call Day'' and 
     other constructive efforts that result in solutions and 
     treatment for the invisible scars that can afflict veterans 
     and members of the Armed Forces.

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