[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 8700-8701]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 169--DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF JUNE 2013 AS ``NATIONAL 
            POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AWARENESS MONTH''

  Ms. HEITKAMP (for herself, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Tester, 
Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Begich, Ms. Hirono, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Johanns, Mr. 
Franken, Mr. Donnelly, Mr. Moran, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Sanders, Mr. 
Heller, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Hoeven, and Mr. Brown) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 169

       Whereas the brave men and women Armed Forces of the United 
     States, who proudly serve the United States, risk their lives 
     to protect the freedom 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 service members have deployed 
     overseas as part of overseas contingency operations since the 
     events of September 11, 2001;

[[Page 8701]]

       Whereas the military has sustained an operational tempo for 
     a period of time unprecedented in the history of the United 
     States, with many service members deploying multiple times to 
     combat zones, placing them at high risk of post-traumatic 
     stress disorder (referred to in this preamble as ``PTSD'');
       Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs reports that--
       (1) since October of 2001, more than 286,000 of the 
     approximately 900,000 veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom, 
     Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn who have used 
     Department of Veterans Affairs health care have been coded 
     for PTSD;
       (2) in fiscal year 2011, more than 475,000 of the nearly 
     6,000,000 veterans from all wars who sought care at a 
     Department of Veterans Affairs medical center received 
     treatment for PTSD; and
       (3) of veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom, 
     Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn who are using 
     Veterans Affairs health care, more than 486,000--or 54 
     percent--have received a diagnosis for at least 1 mental 
     health disorder;
       Whereas many cases of PTSD remain unreported, undiagnosed, 
     and untreated due to a lack of awareness about PTSD and the 
     persistent stigma associated with mental health conditions;
       Whereas PTSD significantly increases the risk of 
     depression, suicide, and drug- and alcohol-related disorders 
     and deaths, especially if left untreated;
       Whereas symptoms of PTSD or other mental health disorders 
     create unique challenges for veterans seeking employment;
       Whereas the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs 
     have made significant advances in the prevention, diagnosis, 
     and treatment of PTSD and the symptoms of PTSD, but many 
     challenges remain; and
       Whereas the establishment of a National Post-Traumatic 
     Stress Disorder Awareness Month will raise public awareness 
     about issues related to PTSD, reduce the stigma associated 
     with PTSD, and help ensure that those suffering from the 
     invisible wounds of war receive proper treatment: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates June 2013, as ``National Post-Traumatic 
     Stress Disorder Awareness Month'';
       (2) supports the efforts of the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs and the Secretary of Defense to educate service 
     members, veterans, the families of service members and 
     veterans, and the public about the causes, symptoms, and 
     treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder; and
       (3) 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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