IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 535 

Expressing support for the designation of November 12, 2023, as ‘‘National 

Warrior Call Day’’ and recognizing the importance of connecting warriors 

in the United States to support structures necessary to transition from 

the battlefield. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 21, 2023 

Mr. VAN ORDEN (for himself, Mr. HUDSON, Mr. RESCHENTHALER, Mr. 

NEHLS, Mr. ZINKE, Mr. HUNT, Ms. DE LA CRUZ, Mr. CRANE, Mr. 

YAKYM, Mr. LUTTRELL, Mrs. HINSON, Mr. KILMER, Ms. SPANBERGER, 

Ms. CRAIG, Mr. PAPPAS, and Ms. NORTON) 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 November 12, 

2023, as ‘‘National Warrior Call Day’’ and recognizing 

the importance of connecting warriors in the United 

States to support structures necessary to transition from 

the battlefield. 

Whereas establishing an annual ‘‘National Warrior Call Day’’ 

will draw attention to the members of the Armed Forces 

whose connection to one another is key to the veterans 

and first responders in the United States who may be 


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2 

•HRES 535 IH 

dangerously disconnected from family, friends, and support systems; 

Whereas the number of suicides of members of the Armed 

Forces serving on active duty increased to 377 in 2020, 

an increase from 348 in 2019; 

Whereas the suicide rate for veterans has steadily increased 

since 2006, with 6,261 veterans taking their own lives in 

2019; 

Whereas, after adjusting for sex and age, the rate of veteran 

suicide in 2018 was 27.5 per 100,000 individuals, higher 

than the rate among all United States adults, which was 

18.3 per 100,000 individuals; 

Whereas more veterans have died by suicide in the last 10 

years than members of the Armed Forces who died from 

combat in Vietnam; 

Whereas many of the veterans who take their own lives have 

had no contact with the Department of Veterans Affairs; 

Whereas the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic can lead to increased isolation and disconnection, 

further exacerbating mental and physical ailments such 

as post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note 

that law enforcement officers and firefighters are more 

likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty, and emergency medical services providers are 1.39 times more 

likely to die by suicide than members of the general public; 

Whereas invisible wounds linked to an underlying and 

undiagnosed traumatic brain injury can mirror many 


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3 

•HRES 535 IH 

mental health conditions, a problem that can be addressed through appropriate medical treatment; 

Whereas additional research is needed to highlight the connection between traumatic brain injury as a root cause of 

invisible wounds and suicide by members of the Armed 

Forces and veterans; and 

Whereas November 12, 2023, would be an appropriate day to 

designate as ‘‘National Warrior Call Day’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘National War3 rior Call Day’’; 

4 (2) encourages all individuals in the United 

5 States, especially members of the Armed Forces 

6 serving on active duty and veterans, to call a war7 rior, have an honest conversation, and connect them 

8 with support, understanding that making a warrior 

9 call could save a life; and 

10 (3) implores all individuals in the United States 

11 to recommit themselves to engaging with members of 

12 the Armed Forces through ‘‘National Warrior Call 

13 Day’’ and other constructive efforts that result in 

14 solutions and treatment for the invisible scars that 

15 members of the Armed Forces carry. 

Æ 


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