IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 930 

Expressing support for designation of the month of June 2016 as ‘‘National 

Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month’’ and June 27, 2016, 

as ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 17, 2016 

Mr. PETERS 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 

Expressing support for designation of the month of June 

2016 as ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month’’ and June 27, 2016, as ‘‘National PostTraumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day’’. 

Whereas the brave men and women of the Armed Forces of 

the United States, who proudly serve the United States, 

risk their lives to protect the freedom 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 more than 2,000,000 members of the Armed Forces 

have deployed overseas since the events of September 11, 


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2001, and have served in places such as Afghanistan and 

Iraq; 

Whereas the Armed Forces of the United States have sustained a historically high operational tempo since September 11, 2001, with many members of the Armed 

Forces deploying overseas multiple times, placing those 

members at high risk of post-traumatic stress injury/injuries (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘PTSI’’ ); 

Whereas men and women of the Armed Forces and veterans 

who served before September 11, 2001, remain at risk 

for PTSI and other mental health injuries; 

Whereas the Secretary of Veterans Affairs reports that— 

(1) since October 2001, more than 390,000 of the 

approximately 1,160,000 veterans of Operation Enduring 

Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New 

Dawn who have received health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs have been diagnosed with PTSI; 

(2) in fiscal year 2014, more than 531,000 of the 

nearly 6,000,000 veterans who sought care at a medical 

facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs received 

treatment for PTSI; and 

(3) of veterans who served in Operation Enduring 

Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New 

Dawn who are receiving health care from the Department 

of Veterans Affairs, more than 615,000 have received a 

diagnosis for at least 1 mental health injury; 

Whereas many cases of PTSI remain unreported, 

undiagnosed, and untreated due to a lack of awareness 

about PTSI and the persistent stigma associated with 

mental health conditions; 

Whereas exposure to military trauma can lead to PTSI; 


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Whereas PTSI significantly increases the risk of anxiety, depression, suicide, homelessness, and drug- and alcohol-related injuries and deaths, especially if left untreated; 

Whereas public perceptions of PTSI or other mental health 

injuries create unique challenges for veterans seeking employment; 

Whereas the Department of Defense and the Department of 

Veterans Affairs, as well as the larger medical community, both private and public, have made significant advances in the identification, prevention, diagnosis, and 

treatment of PTSI and the symptoms of PTSI, but many 

challenges remain; 

Whereas increased understanding of PTSI can help diminish 

the stigma attached to this mental health issue, and additional efforts are needed to find further ways to reduce 

this stigma—including an examination of how PTSI is 

discussed in the United States and a recognition that 

PTSI is a common injury that is treatable and repairable; 

Whereas PTSI can result from any number of stressors other 

than combat, including rape, sexual assault, battery, torture, confinement, child abuse, car accidents, train 

wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, or natural disaster, and 

affects approximately 8,000,000 adults in the United 

States annually; and 

Whereas the designation of a National Post-Traumatic Stress 

Injury Awareness Month and a National Post-Traumatic 

Stress Injury Day will raise public awareness about 

issues related to PTSI, reduce the stigma associated with 

PTSI, and help ensure that those suffering from the inVerDate Sep 11 2014 05:30 Nov 18, 2016 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR930.IH HR930

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visible wounds of war receive proper treatment: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘National Post3 Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month’’ and 

4 ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness 

5 Day’’; 

6 (2) supports the efforts of the Secretary of Vet7 erans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense, as well 

8 as the entire medical community, to educate mem9 bers of the Armed Forces, veterans, the families of 

10 members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and the 

11 public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of 

12 post-traumatic stress injury/injuries (PTSI); 

13 (3) encourages commanders of the Armed 

14 Forces to support appropriate treatment of men and 

15 women of the Armed Forces who are diagnosed with 

16 PTSI; and 

17 (4) respectfully requests that the Clerk of the 

18 House of Representatives transmit a copy of this 

19 resolution to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and 

20 the Secretary of Defense. 

Æ 


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