IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 443 

Commending the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs for their 

joint campaign to raise awareness during September, Suicide Prevention 

Month, to reduce suicide among members of the United States Armed 

Forces and veterans. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 

Ms. ESTY (for herself, Mr. GIBSON, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, and Mrs. MIMI WALTERS of California) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee 

on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 

Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 

the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Commending the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs for their joint campaign to raise awareness during 

September, Suicide Prevention Month, to reduce suicide 

among members of the United States Armed Forces and 

veterans. 

Whereas suicide is a leading noncombat cause of death 

among members of the United States Armed Forces; 

Whereas, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs 

2012 Suicide Data Report, as many as 22 veterans are 

lost to suicide in the United States each day; 

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•HRES 443 IH 

Whereas more than 38,000 people in the United States take 

their lives each year, 20 percent of whom are veterans; 

Whereas the Joshua Omvig Suicide Prevention Act (Public 

Law 110–110; 121 Stat. 1031) was enacted in 2007 to 

establish a comprehensive program for suicide prevention 

among veterans; 

Whereas the Veterans Crisis Line, which was established 

under the Joshua Omvig Suicide Prevention Act, has received more than 890,000 telephone calls and facilitated 

more than 30,000 life-saving rescues; 

Whereas many suicides are preventable, and 90 percent of individuals who die by suicide have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder at the time of death; 

Whereas the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act (Public Law 114–2; 129 Stat. 30) was enacted 

in 2015 to provide veterans increased access to mental 

health care and resources; 

Whereas September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month; and 

Whereas in September 2014, the Department of Defense and 

the Department of Veterans Affairs launched the joint 

public awareness campaign ‘‘The Power of 1’’ to draw attention to the mental health services and suicide prevention programs available to members of the United States 

Armed Forces and veterans, focusing on everyday actions 

that can save lives: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) commends the Department of Defense and 

3 the Department of Veterans Affairs for raising 

4 awareness during Suicide Prevention Month of the 

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•HRES 443 IH 

1 life-saving resources available to those who have 

2 served, or are currently serving, in uniform; and 

3 (2) supports the goals and ideals of National 

4 Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, ‘‘The Power 

5 of 1’’ campaign, and efforts to improve outreach to 

6 individuals at risk for suicide, especially those ad7 dressed to veterans and members of the United 

8 States Armed Forces. 

Æ 

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