III 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 512 

Designating the month of June 2016 as ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress 

Awareness Month’’ and June 27, 2016, as ‘‘National Post-Traumatic 

Stress Awareness Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 23, 2016 

Ms. HEITKAMP (for herself, Mr. HELLER, Mr. SULLIVAN, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, 

Mr. TILLIS, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. WARNER, Mr. INHOFE, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. HOEVEN, Mr. CASEY, Mr. DAINES, Ms. BALDWIN, Ms. MURKOWSKI, Mr. TESTER, Mr. MORAN, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. 

COONS, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. PETERS, Mr. KING, Ms. HIRONO, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. BROWN, and Mr. DONNELLY) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the month of June 2016 as ‘‘National PostTraumatic Stress Awareness Month’’ and June 27, 2016, 

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

Whereas the brave men and women of the Armed Forces of 

the United States (in this preamble referred to as the 

‘‘Armed Forces’’), 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; 


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•SRES 512 ATS 

Whereas more than 2,000,000 members of the Armed Forces 

have deployed overseas since the events of September 11, 

2001, and have served in places such as Afghanistan and 

Iraq; 

Whereas the Armed Forces 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 experiencing combat stress; 

Whereas, when left untreated, exposure to traumatic combat 

stress can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (in this 

preamble referred to as ‘‘PTSD’’), sometimes referred to 

as post-traumatic stress injury; 

Whereas men and women of the Armed Forces and veterans 

who served before September 11, 2001, remain at risk 

for PTSD and other mental health disorders; 

Whereas the Secretary of Veterans Affairs reports that, in 

fiscal year 2015, more than 569,000 of the nearly 

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

of the Department of Veterans Affairs received treatment 

for PTSD; 

Whereas many combat stress injuries remain unreported, 

undiagnosed, and untreated due to a lack of awareness 

about post-traumatic stress and the persistent stigma associated with mental health conditions; 

Whereas exposure to military trauma can lead to PTSD; 

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


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•SRES 512 ATS 

Whereas public perceptions of PTSD or other mental health 

disorders 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 PTSD and the symptoms of PTSD, but 

many challenges remain; 

Whereas increased understanding of post-traumatic stress 

can help eliminate the stigma attached to this mental 

health issue; 

Whereas additional efforts are needed to find further ways to 

eliminate the stigma associated with post-traumatic 

stress, including— 

(1) an examination of how post-traumatic stress is 

discussed in the United States; and 

(2) a recognition that post-traumatic stress is a 

common injury that is treatable and repairable; 

Whereas post-traumatic stress 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 

disasters, and affects approximately 8,000,000 adults in 

the United States annually; and 

Whereas the designation of a National Post-Traumatic Stress 

Awareness Month and a National Post-Traumatic Stress 

Awareness Day will raise public awareness about issues 

related to post-traumatic stress, reduce the associated 

stigma, and help ensure that those individuals suffering 


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from the invisible wounds of war receive proper treatment: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates June 2016 as ‘‘National Post3 Traumatic Stress Awareness Month’’ and June 27, 

4 2016, as ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress Aware5 ness 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 of the United States, vet10 erans, the families of members of the Armed Forces 

11 of the United States and veterans, and the public 

12 about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post13 traumatic stress; 

14 (3) welcomes the efforts of the National Center 

15 for PTSD of the Department of Veterans Affairs 

16 and local Vet Centers (as defined in section 

17 1712A(h) of title 38, United States Code) to provide 

18 assistance to veterans who are suffering from the ef19 fects of this injury; 

20 (4) encourages commanders of the Armed 

21 Forces of the United States to support appropriate 

22 treatment of men and women of the Armed Forces 

23 of the United States who are diagnosed with post24 traumatic stress disorder; and 


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1 (5) respectfully requests that the Secretary of 

2 the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to the 

3 Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of 

4 Defense. 

Æ 


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