IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 572 

Expressing support for the designation of the month of June 2023 as ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month’’ and June 27, 

2023, as ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 30, 2023 

Mr. PETERS (for himself and Mr. TRONE) 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 the designation of the month of June 

2023 as ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month’’ and June 27, 2023, as ‘‘National PostTraumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day’’. 

Whereas the brave men and women of the Armed Forces, 

who proudly serve the United States, risk their lives to 

protect the freedom, health, and welfare 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 nearly 2,800,000 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 current generation of men and women in the 

Armed Forces has sustained a high rate of operational 

deployments, with many members of the Armed Forces 

serving overseas multiple times, placing those members at 

high risk of enduring traumatic combat stress; 

Whereas, when left untreated, exposure to traumatic combat 

stress can lead to severe and chronic post-traumatic 

stress responses, commonly referred to as post-traumatic 

stress disorder (in this preamble referred to as ‘‘PTSD’’) 

or post-traumatic stress injury; 

Whereas many men and women of the Armed Forces and veterans who served before September 11, 2001, live with 

mental health needs from post-traumatic stress and remain at risk; 

Whereas the Secretary of Veterans Affairs reports that approximately— 

(1) 11 to 20 percent of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom 

have PTSD in a given year; 

(2) 12 percent of veterans who served in the Persian 

Gulf war have PTSD in a given year; and 

(3) 30 percent of veterans who served in the Vietnam era have had PTSD in their lifetimes; 

Whereas many post-traumatic stress responses 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 trauma during service in the Armed 

Forces can lead to post-traumatic stress; 


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Whereas post-traumatic stress significantly increases the risk 

of anxiety, depression, homelessness, substance abuse, 

and suicide, especially if left untreated; 

Whereas public perceptions of post-traumatic stress as a 

mental health disorder creates unique challenges for veterans seeking employment; 

Whereas the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and veterans service organizations, as well 

as the larger medical community, both private and public, 

have made significant advances in the identification, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of post-traumatic stress 

and the symptoms of post-traumatic stress, but many 

challenges remain; 

Whereas increased understanding of post-traumatic stress 

can help to 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; 

Whereas timely and appropriate treatment of post-traumatic 

stress responses can diminish complications and avert 

suicides; 

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, natural disVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:44 Jul 01, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR572.IH HR572

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asters, or global pandemics, and affects approximately 

8,000,000 adults in the United States annually; 

Whereas traumatic events such as the COVID–19 pandemic 

could increase the number of those impacted by or exacerbate the responses of post-traumatic stress; 

Whereas the diagnosis now known as PTSD was first defined 

by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980 to commonly and more accurately understand and treat veterans who had endured severe traumatic combat stress; 

Whereas the word ‘‘disorder’’ perpetuates the stigma associated with combat stress; and 

Whereas the designation of a National Post-Traumatic Stress 

Injury Awareness Month and a National Post-Traumatic 

Stress Injury Awareness Day raises public awareness 

about issues related to post-traumatic stress, reduces the 

associated stigma, and helps ensure that those individuals 

suffering from the invisible 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 


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1 public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of 

2 post-traumatic stress; 

3 (3) supports efforts by the Secretary of Vet4 erans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense to foster 

5 cultural change around the issue of post-traumatic 

6 stress, understanding that personal interactions can 

7 save lives and advance treatment; 

8 (4) welcomes the efforts of the National Center 

9 for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder of the Depart10 ment of Veterans Affairs and local Vet Centers (as 

11 defined in section 1712A(h) of title 38, United 

12 States Code) to provide assistance to veterans who 

13 are suffering from the effects of post-traumatic 

14 stress; 

15 (5) encourages the leadership of the Armed 

16 Forces to support appropriate treatment of men and 

17 women of the Armed Forces who suffer from post18 traumatic stress; 

19 (6) recognizes the impact of post-traumatic 

20 stress on the spouses and families of members of the 

21 Armed Forces and veterans; and 

22 (7) respectfully requests that the Clerk of the 

23 House transmit a copy of this resolution to the SecVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:44 Jul 01, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR572.IH HR572

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1 retary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of De2 fense. 

Æ 


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