III 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 169 

Designating the month of June 2013 as ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress 

Disorder Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 12, 2013 

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 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the month of June 2013 as ‘‘National PostTraumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month’’. 

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 wellbeing; 

Whereas more than 2,000,000 service members have deployed 

overseas as part of overseas contingency operations since 

the events of September 11, 2001; 

Whereas the military has sustained an operational tempo for 

a period of time unprecedented in the history of the 


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•SRES 169 ATS 

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, diagVerDate Mar 15 2010 23:35 Jun 12, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR169.ATS SR169

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•SRES 169 ATS 

nosis, 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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates June 2013, as ‘‘National Post3 Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month’’; 

4 (2) supports the efforts of the Secretary of Vet5 erans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense to edu6 cate service members, veterans, the families of serv7 ice members and veterans, and the public about the 

8 causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-traumatic 

9 stress disorder; and 

10 (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of 

11 the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to the 

12 Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of 

13 Defense. 

Æ 


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